Scotland has recorded its hottest day ever as temperatures climbed to 34.8C on Tuesday.
The temperature was recorded at Charterhall, in the Scottish Borders, according to provisional Met Office figures, on Tuesday. It beat an almost 19-year-old record by 1.9C.
Greycrook, also in the Scottish Borders, held the temperature record north of the border from August 2003 when it experienced a high of 32.9C. In Edinburgh, temperatures fell just shy of that figure, with highs of around 31C recorded on both Monday and Tuesday.
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Locals flooded to local beauty spots such as Arthur's Seat, Portobello Beach and The Meadows, although experts warned that the soaring temperatures could be a risk if people didn't prepare accordingly. Advice was issued for pet owners and those with small children.
There was also disruption to rail travel and businesses around the capital. Rising temperatures saw ScotRail put speed restrictions on many services, and rail bosses have warned trains could be delayed.
Mark Wilson, of the Met Office, said it was "officially the highest temperature recorded in Scotland since records began".
The Met Office issued an amber weather warning, for extreme heat in eastern, southern and central parts of Scotland, which is in force until midnight on Tuesday. Elsewhere in Scotland Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway recorded a temperature of 32.3C, while in Threave, Dumfries and Galloway, the thermometer climbed to 31.2C.
And the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) warned that the wildfire risk in southern and eastern parts of Scotland has risen to "very high". Fire chiefs said that, in prolonged periods of high temperatures, the risk of wildfires breaking out increases.
SFRS Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Bruce Farquharson said: "At this time of year, the ground vegetation is a combination of green growth, with a relatively high moisture content, and dead vegetation lying on top, which can easily ignite and spread quickly over a large area."
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