AN AMBULANCE service received almost 2,500 calls in one day as temperatures soared to 27C.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service took almost 2,500 calls yesterday as thousands enjoyed the spell of good weather, despite the official meteorological end of summer.

The warm weather is expected to last for several days, with the mercury hovering around the mid-20s in many parts of the country.

Writing on Facebook, a South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "We've already received almost 2,500 999 calls today.

"Our fantastic crews are doing their best to reach patients as quickly as possible but if your call is urgent rather than an emergency, you will wait longer for a response."

The warm weather follows the official end of summer, from a meteorological point of view, which is considered to be August 31.

It comes as children across the country return to classrooms after the summer break. Many schools in England and Wales started again last week and pupils in Scotland and Northern Ireland are already back.

The Met Office said the warm spell is expected to last until Wednesday, and predictions show some areas are on the “borderline” of experiencing an official heatwave.

A location meets the UK heatwave threshold when it records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperature levels which vary across the country.

These include 25C (77F) for central England and Wales – where it has been forecast the threshold could be exceeded – and 28C (82.4F) for London and the South East.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: “It’s not uncommon for the UK to get warm spells heading into early September.

“There’s a chance of some areas reaching heatwave criteria, but that is fairly borderline and the breakdown that is happening on Wednesday will subdue the temperatures as well.

“So, it will be touch and go for some places whether a heatwave is officially in the forecast.”

He added: “Temperatures are going to be widely in the mid-20s, especially in the south, where there’s going to be spells of good sunshine.

“Heading into Tuesday, that warmth spreads further north across the country, bringing a fine and dry day for most with that warm weather extending across the UK.”