The heat health alert issued in Southampton and the New Forest has been reissued and upgraded, as an amber warning has now come into effect.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) put an amber alert into place at 12pm, lasting the entire weekend until 9am on Monday morning.

Temperatures in Southampton are set to hit a sweltering 28C today, with weather experts Met Office predicting the same peak on Saturday and Sunday too.

A spokesperson for the UKHSA warned that the heat could cause "significant impacts" across health and social care services.

The alert covers the entire South East region.

READ MORE: Chaos for commuters as M27 delays reached 30 minutes

The agency warned of "a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health continues".

A spokesperson said: "There may also be impacts on younger age groups
likely increased demand on all health and social care services
internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment."

Indoor environments might overheat and increase the risk of vulnerable people living independently.

The UKHSA also warns that public services may be impacted by staffing issues caused by external factors.