TEMPERATURES soared through the 100F barrier yesterday for the first time in Britain on a day of strongly contrasting weather conditions.

A scorching new record of 38.1C (100.6F) was set at Gravesend, Kent, in the afternoon as southern Britain basked in sunshine.

But while millions of sunseekers flocked to parks and beaches to soak up the sunshine, the unprecedented temperatures brought storms to parts of northern England and the Midlands.

More than 20 people were injured after being struck by lightning during violent thunderstorms.

And a man died after heavy storms in the Tees bay smashed his small fishing boat to pieces.

The existing temperature record of 37.1C, registered at Cheltenham in August 1990, was first beaten at around 1.30pm when it topped 37.4C (99.3F) at Heathrow.

At 2.50pm, the mercury at Heathrow had risen through the 100F mark for the time, reaching 37.9C (100.2F) but that record was later broken again at Gravesend.

Temperatures were also high in south Wales, with the Community Shield between Manchester United and Arsenal being played in 30C (86F) heat at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

And the good weather is set to continue into next week in the south of England but it will be fresher in the North.

Temperatures are set to reach 33C (91F) in London and 30C in the South East, while in Scotland it will be 22C (72F), 26C (79F) in Wales and 23C (73F) in Northern Ireland. Some northern parts may also get scattered showers.

Roger White, a weatherman at the Met Office's London Weather Centre, said that for "weather nerds" like him it was exciting to be working on the day the record was broken.

"We tend to get fairly excited about these things because that's what interests us, that's why we joined.

"It's an honour to be working on such a day." The new record means book-makers face a £500,000 payout after thousands of people staked small sums on the 100F mark being broken.

But while sunseekers enjoyed the soaring temper-atures, violent thunderstorms hit other parts of the country.

A woman from Birmingham was recovering in hospital last night after suffering a heart attack when lightning hit players and spectators at a football match.

Fourteen people were treated for eye injuries, burns and shock by paramedics and hospital staf f after the incident at the Great Barr Leisure Centre in Birmingham.

Assistant manager Derek Jevons said the woman, believed to be in her 40s, had taken "a direct hit".

Two Brownies had a lucky escape when lightning struck between them at a camp in Great Harwood, near Blackburn, Lancs. A fire severely damaged a dormitory.

The girls were treated for minor burns and a sprained ankle at Accrington Victoria Hospital before being discharged.

Another six people were injured when lightning struck an umbrella being carried by a visitor at the Fillongley Agricultural Show at Stone-house Farm, Corley, Warwickshire.

One woman suffered severe burns while the others received more minor injuries.

A police spokesman said that two of the injured were taken to the George Elliot Hospital in Nuneaton for treatment.

In Birmingham, more than 60 firefighters fought a large fire at a collection of factory units struck by lightning during the storms.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF THE SUN

TEMPERATURES hit just 19C (60F) in Liverpool yesterday, but high pressure was building up once again last night and so weather is expected to be mostly dry and sunny for much of the rest of the week.

Temperatures are expected to be marginally cooler than last week, with highs of 22 or 23 degrees today and Tuesday, cooling to 20 or 21 on Wednesday and Thursday.

There may be some slight cloud cover as today dawns, but there will be sunny spells later. There's also a possibility of light showers tomorrow night.