A homelessness charity has urged the public to help people sleeping rough in the heat as England is hit by a heatwave this week.
The Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have issued a heat-health alert as the heatwave looks set to bring temperatures over 30C this week.
A level 2 alert, which warns of a threat to health from high temperatures, is in place across the south-west, East Midlands, West Midlands, north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber regions. The east of England, the south-east and London are all under a level 3 alert, which requires social and healthcare services to take action to protect high-risk groups of people.
Petra Salva, St Mungo’s director of rough sleepers, Westminster and migrant services, urged the public to join efforts to protect rough sleepers this week.
“Sleeping rough is dangerous at any time of the year – but in extreme temperatures that risk is hugely increased,” said Salva.
“The people we support often have existing health conditions which can be exacerbated by the heat, also they may have limited access to things most people take for granted such as fresh drinking water, sunscreen or even places where they can get out of the sun – all of which can lead to serious medical problems.