The temperature exceeded the previous high of 37.1 degrees CelsiusFahrenheit), set in central England in August 1990, early Sunday afternoon, the Met Office, Britain's government meteorological bureau, told AFP.

Later Sunday the mercury was expected to exceed 100 FahrenheitCelsius) for the first time since British weather records began, Met Office forecaster Martin Rowley said.

"In summer, the peak of the heat isn't usually until around 5:00pm, so we should go higher yet," he said.

"It's only a bit to go to 100 degrees, so I'd say there's a fair chance still."

Millions of Britons have been flocking to beaches, lakes and parks in recent days as the country has been blanketed under the heat wave currently affecting much of Europe.

TERRA.WIRE