Brits have been told that a simple hack could prove to be a game changer for those looking to cool down in hot temperatures. Advice online and on social media recommends putting pyjamas in the freezer through the day to cool the person wearing them down on an evening.

However, a sleep expert has warned that doing so could actually serve to make people more uncomfortable rather than less. James Wilson, best known as The Sleep Geek, has urged people not to try the hack as it could make people warmer rather than cooler. Speaking previously with the Mirror, Wilson said: "When hot weather comes around there are some tips given out that may sound like they would work when actually they really really don’t.

"An example of this may be putting your bedding/pyjamas in the fridge or freezer or wearing wet socks to bed, but they both have the same problem.

"These approaches will add more moisture to your sleep environment and that moisture will heat up during the night.

"This means that although it may cool you down as you go to bed during the night this moisture will heat up and is likely to wake you as you come out of your sleep cycle.

"An alternative that works would be to have either a lukewarm bath or shower or put lukewarm water in a hot water bottle and rest the soles of your feet on it."

A new record high temperature was set for June for the second day in a row on Thursday as the UK sweltered under conditions in excess of 36C.

London Ambulance Service said it had recorded the highest number of life-threatening emergencies in its history on Wednesday, “driven by the extreme heat”, while doctors warned of “awful conditions” in NHS facilities during the heatwave.

Schools and nurseries closed, a hosepipe ban was introduced in Kent amid surging demand, transport services were disrupted and one rail operator urged people not to travel to beaches because of the extreme heat.

The Met Office predicts that the coming week will be cooler than the last, with

Their long-range forecast for Tuesday 30 June to Thursday 9 July said: “Fairly changeable conditions at first with periods of rain and showers, and there could be some thundery outbreaks at times.

“The best of the drier and brighter weather initially will be across the southeast. Then perhaps a drier start to July for many, although the northwest may still see some rain at times, and perhaps accompanied by some strong winds.

“Temperatures are likely to be near average in the north and slightly warmer than average in the south, but with winds generally from the west temperatures aren't expected to be as hot as seen recently.”