Warning issued to parents and dog owners as temperatures set to soar

People are being warned of the dangers of leaving children and dogs in cars as hot weather is set to hit Dorset.

A weather warning is currently in place with temperatures set to soar over the next couple of days.

The warning has been issued by the The UK Health Security Agency and is in place until 5pm on Thursday, June 27 for the whole of the south west region - including Dorset.

The government agency has warned that there will be 'minor impacts' across the health and social care sector including an increased use of services by vulnerable people.

It also says that there is an 'increase in risk of mortality'  amongst vulnerable people and an 'increased potential' for indoor environments to become very warm.

According to the Met Office, temperatures in Dorchester and Weymouth are set to peak around 25c and 24c, but could be hotter in other areas of the county.

The warning has also caused the AA to issue advice to parents and dog owners as they attend up to five dangerous car lock outs each day.

It has warned that in temperatures of 27c the inside of a car can reach up to 60c and that after extreme heat in 2022, more dog owners refuse to carry animals in cars on hot days and two thirds are now careful not to walk their pets on scorching pavements - even for short periods.

A spokesperson for the AA said "With yellow heat warnings issued for most of the UK, The AA reiterates its warning not to leave children or pets in the car when unattended even for short periods.

"AA research has shown that drivers who carry children and pets in their cars have become conscious of the threat of their vehicles being turned into ovens on hot days.

"However, the AA is having to rescue car occupants locked in dangerously hot cars as many as five times a day."