Students at a Biddulph school have been given the option to go home early as temperatures in Biddulph soar - with the Met Office issuing its first ever red extreme heat weather warning.

Temperatures in the town are expected to reach as high as 37C this week as residents have been doing their best to stay cool in the heatwave.

People have also been posting pictures of record temperatures on their thermometers, with one resident showing a surface temperature of 47C on the surfaces of the slabs on their back garden.

Local vets have also been issuing advice on how residents can keep their pets safe in the heat.

Parents at Woodhouse Academy have been told they can give their children the option of going home early as the heat caused issues for students and staff today.

A spokesperson for the school said: "As today has caused a number of problems for both students and staff due to the extreme weather, we are giving the option for parents to allow their child to leave school earlier than normal. Please fill in the Microsoft form using the link below (or copy into a browser) if you would like to do this. Students will be catered for until the end of the day should you want them to leave at the normal time of 3.35pm.

"If you choose to collect your child early at one of the 2 collection times please come and collect them from the foyer area near reception (please do not park on the school car park). If you give authorisation for your child to walk home then they will be allowed to leave school at the time you have selected."

Other than the usual leaving time of 3.35pm, the option has also been given to leave at 2.40pm or 12.30pm. A form is available for parents to fill out on the Woodhouse Academy Facebook page.

Meanwhile Blue House Veterinary Centre has said people can cancel their appointments if they think it would be unsafe to travel with their pets in the heat.

A spokesperson for the vets said: "It is going to be sweltering the next couple of days! If you have a non routine appointment booked and you want to cancel it for a cooler day we will completely understand. Especially if you have a short faced dog such as a bulldog, pug etc - we don't want them getting overheated. Keep cool!"

As you can see in the image at the top of this article, Biddulph is currently on the edge of the red extreme heat weather warning - the first ever issued by the Met Office. Areas without a red warning in place still have an amber warning in place.

The warning is in place for today (Monday) and until midnight tomorrow.

The Met Office summarised the warning as: "An exceptional hot spell on Monday and Tuesday leading to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure."