SUN worshippers had a Saturday to savour as temperatures soared above 30 degrees in Swindon.

The heatwave which came from north Africa saw the mercury hit 32C in the afternoon.

Sunrise Dale took advantage by going out with her family to Faringdon Park.

She said: “It feels like we are on holiday, and we are going to enjoy the sun as long as we can. I’m used to hot weather because I was born in Cyprus.

“I enjoy it and my whole family are summer freaks anyway."

Chris Hamley-Jenkins added: “I wanted to rush to the beach, but I knew that millions of people were going to be there.

“It’s a great day for me to do most of the outside jobs that I never have the time to do.

"It’s great and it’s not too warm for me as I’m used to Thailand weather.”

The sunny weather, which is set to continue this week, provided a chance for others to experiment new things.

Mariusz Fauszowicz said: “It was a good opportunity for my son to learn how to ride a bike. He is now enjoying it with his friends.”

But first-aider Stacey Tuck said many people are not aware of the dangers when it comes to sun exposure.

She said: “We keep an eye on all of them, making sure they drink water regularly. But most them don’t realise what’s going to happen if they stay in the sun. It could result in sun stroke, with body temperatures reaching 40C and above.

“The best advice would be to come out of the sun and going to the shade every 20 minutes, but they are not going to do that. They need to hydrate and wear hats.”

And the exceptionally high temperatures proved to be bad news for businesses, with sales taking a hit.

Owner of Coate Water Café Craig Poole said: “It was very quiet today because it was too hot, so people stayed at home instead of coming here. They are not even bringing their dogs.

“Most of them kept the kids in the garden, so as a hot day we should have been busier.”

An ice-cream seller at GWR Park, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s dead. There nobody here.

"I’m not moving somewhere else because I paid to be here, otherwise I would have been gone.”