An LBC caller has said Britain is 'breeding a nation of melts' after the heatwave shut more than 1,000 schools and workplaces across the country.

Caller James said tradesmen soldiering on with outdoor work this week were the 'backbone' of Britain, while the decision to close schools was leaving children 'ill-prepared for real life in this hard world'.

It comes as a 'heat dome' across Europe has prompted a rare red warning for extreme in London, the south, parts of the Midlands and southeast Wales, with record-breaking June temperatures of 40C forecast.

But James didn't mince his words as he described those out working in yesterday's heat as nothing short of heroic.

He told presenter Henry Riley: 'There were six men and they weren't all young 20-somethings, some of them were probably as old as 45, stripped down to their shirts, just shorts and boots and their belts.

'And they were handballing all this heavy-duty steel scaffolding. It was 33C in the temperature on my car.

'It's men like that that are the backbone of every country on this planet.'

He went on to hit out at 'melts' who 'go on about children and duty of care'.

'We are breeding a nation of melts. We've got children that as you've already said are locked in their bedrooms. They are so ill-prepared for what real life in this hard world is like.'

Presenter Mr Riley praised his comments, but added: 'There is a line though, isn't there. You've got to be sensible with it.'

He added: 'Ultimately, times have moved on haven't they? We don't have to be melts. But we also have to be cognisant of the fact that probably old workplace practices maybe don't work as well now.' 

Babies and young children under the age of five are most at risk during heatwaves,  while adolescents are more likely to experience exertional heat-related injuries.

Temperatures in the south of England today are due to considerably exceed the UK's previous June record of 35.6C, set during the heatwave of 1976.

Unlike in 1976, hundreds of schools around the country are partially or fully closed today, with many expected to send pupils home at lunch time before the height of the heat. 

The Met Office has said that top temperature estimates suggest this week could even be Britain's hottest day ever.

The highest temperature ever recorded since records began was 40.3C, set in Lincolnshire in July 2022. 

Hundreds of schools around the country were fully closed or closed from lunchtime today, amid concern over stifling temperatures and old buildings with no air conditioning.

At least 578 schools in England and more than 500 in Wales announced full or partial closures.

Almost 100 schools in Somerset are shut on Wednesday and Thursday, while around 100 schools in Buckinghamshire and dozens more across Gloucestershire have announced full or partial closures.

Other schools have relaxed uniform rules and allowed pupils to attend in PE kits rather than blazers and long trousers.

Children are more susceptible to extreme heat, according children's charity UNICEF.

They sweat less per kilogram and have a higher metabolism, meaning they get hot more quickly.

They also tend to spend more time outside and be more active in hot weather than adults, while rehydrating less. 

Infants and babies are particularly vulnerable as they cannot regulate their body temperature well, have more internal heat and have developing immune systems, meaning they are less well-equipped to fight off symptoms of heat stress. 

In an ominous warning, forecasters have said they expect the 50-year June temperature record of 35.6C to get 'absolutely smashed'.

Some parts of Britain experienced overnight temperatures of above 20C, resulting in so-called tropical nights.

Earlier on Wednesday the Met Office extended its red extreme heat warning for three hours until 11.59pm on Thursday and also to three more counties, Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex.

An amber extreme heat warning has also been issued for Friday, which covers eastern and central England, with the organisation warning this could change as more information becomes available. 

The red warning indicates the heat is so intense that it poses a danger to life not just among those who are vulnerable, but also the wider population.

Rail customers have been warned not to travel in large parts of England unless absolutely necessary, and health leaders have urged Brits to take precautions, stay hydrated and carry water if using public transport. 

Transport across much of Britain has ground to a halt or faces serious disruption, with the UK's largest rail network urging people not to travel.

Eurostar services and flights have been cancelled, and train services that are running are expected to face delays.

Yesterday afternoon, a Great Northern service from Moorgate to Stevenage lost power between Drayton Park and Finsbury Park.

It left passengers trapped in sweltering conditions for hours without any air-conditioning.

The Cabinet Office held an official-level COBR meeting on Tuesday morning over the severe heatwave, with a Government spokesperson saying it will continue to closely monitor the situation.

The Met Office warned that maximum temperatures could exceed 37C for two to three consecutive days across parts of southern England and Wales, with some locations potentially reaching between 38C and 40C.

High humidity is expected to make conditions feel even more oppressive, while tropical nights with temperatures remaining above 20C will offer little respite after dark.

Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesman, said: 'The Met Office is flagging 39C as a headline maximum temperature on Thursday, most likely for somewhere in London or the South East.

'It is possible we could see temperatures higher than the 39C if the final values are at the upper end of our narrow range.

'It is important to remember that the temperature value is only one element of this extreme heatwave story.

'The other major factor is the high humidity, which for many will make the intense heat even harder to endure.'