A NEW record has been set for the hottest ever recorded night-time temperature.

According to provisional Met Office figures, temperatures didn’t fall below 25C in some areas of the UK, exceeding the previous highest of 23.9C.

That previous record was documented more than 30 years ago in Brighton on August 3, 1990.

The highest minimum temperatures last night were 24.5C in Aberporth, Wales, 25.8C in Kenley, south London, and 25.9C in Emley Moor, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

People are bracing for what could also be the hottest day on record in the UK, as temperatures are predicted to hit 40C amid growing travel chaos.

It comes after the mercury peaked at 38.1C in Santon Downham, Suffolk on Monday, making it the hottest day of the year and the third hottest day on record, after 38.7C in Cambridge in 2019 and 38.5C in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.

The mercury will sizzle at possible highs of 41C in isolated areas on Tuesday, making the country hotter than Jamaica, the Maldives and Barbados – with rail users warned of delays, cancellations and changes to train services.

Rachel Ayers, a Met Office forecaster, said: “Overnight it’s going to stay very warm so expect a difficult night of sleeping.

“We then have a pretty unprecedented day tomorrow, the temperature will be very hot throughout the day, before rising as high as 40C, maybe even 41C in isolated spots across England during the afternoon.

“This will make it the hottest day on record and the first time we have seen temperatures as high as 40C.”

Most rail routes across England and Wales will be affected by the hot weather on Tuesday, according to National Rail, with customers told only to travel if “absolutely necessary”.

Network Rail said: “There will be delays, cancellations and last-minute changes to train services due to the unprecedented record heat on those days.”

Ms Ayers added: “There are likely to be delays on roads, with road closures, as well as possible delays and cancellations to trains and maybe issues with air travel.

“This could pose a significant health risk to those stuck on services or roads during the heat.”

Southern, South Eastern, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway are among the dozens of train companies running significantly reduced services across the country.

The RAC anticipated that the number of vehicle breakdowns could be up to a fifth higher than normal.