IT HAS already seen hundreds of people flock to the Great Western Hospital's emergency department in recent weeks.

But the current heatwave is also wreaking havoc with Swindon's school sporting programme.

Sports days at Salt Way Primary School in Pearl Road, Middleleaze and Oliver Tomkins Junior School in Beaumaris Road, Toothill were cancelled yesterday as temperatures broke the 30 degrees centigrade barrier.

And Elizabeth Wood, headteacher of Oliver Tomkins, said she took the decision to postpone the highlight of the summer term after receiving advice from the Government.

"We will be rescheduling sports day when the weather is cooler," said Mrs Wood.

"We have limited shade on our field and we felt it would be unwise to let the children, parents and staff out on the field for two hours.

"I have to say, the parents I have spoken to are in complete agreement.

"The only time we have had to cancel a sports day was when it was pouring with rain, but I cannot remember the Government issuing a heatwave warning before."

Children at Salt Way Primary were not too downcast after learning their sports day was postponed for less than 24 hours.

"We are going to run sports day tomorrow but early in the morning," explained Sue Smith, headteacher of Salt Way Primary School.

"We did think hard about postponing it because parents had already booked time off, but we felt it was important to keep the children safe from the sun."

Last month, the Adver reported that more than 200 patients a day were calling at the emergency department of the Great Western Hospital after complaining of breathing difficulties and heart problems brought on by the hot weather.

On average, the hospital's emergency department deals with about 150 patients a day and the increase in patients has forced it to miss its four-hour maximum waiting time target.

"We had one day where we had 240 A&E attendees," said Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust's director of operations, Sue Rowley.

"Over the last few weeks we have had two days a week where the number of visitors to A&E has been more than 200."

Last night, the Met Office issued further warnings of high temperatures affecting much of the UK, and has raised the Heat-Health alert to Level 3, the first time this level has been reached since the service was started in 2004.

A Met Office spokesman said Swindon residents can expect similarly high temperatures today of 30 degrees centigrade with the risk of thundery showers.

Temperatures are expected to drop slightly as the week goes on, but Swindon can expect to see thunderstorms and the risk of localised flooding.

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As a result of the surge in patient numbers, people have been urged to use their local health services to cut down waiting and ease pressure on acute services.

The plea has gone out from Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, and Swindon Primary Care Trust.

Ways of avoiding the casualty department include visiting a pharmacist for advice and using the NHS Direct service on the internet www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk Or alternatively call on 0845 4647.

NHS advice for the heatwave includes avoiding direct sun between 11am and 3pm, and to avoid strenuous work such as gardening or DIY.

It is best to keep covered with loose-fitting clothes and to wear a hat.

It's also advised to drink more than usual, but not tea, coffee or alcohol as they cause dehydration.