Week-long heatwave in the UK

The Met Office said Wednesday it had raised the heat wave alert to level three _ the second highest _ for the first time since 2006.

Temperatures reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) in London by mid-afternoon. Britain's health service said it received more than 300 calls Tuesday from
people suffering from heat-related ailments.

Average temperatures for late June and early July are usually around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius), the Met Office says.

At Whipsnade Zoo, about 35 miles (56km) north of London, elephants were sprayed down with water jets to cool off.