WE went back in time to the glorious summer of 1976 this week when the thermometer climbed to the hottest July day in 30 years.

Malvern weather expert Frank Hill said Wednesday's maximum temperature of 34.6C equalled the July record set during that landmark summer.

The 70s record was made in the middle of a long, hot, dry spell from late June to early July, where the temperature exceeded 30C on 15 successive days.

Mr Hill said the current heatwave did not compare

to this, as there had only been three days with temperatures over 30C.

"At the moment the temperatures are up to scratch but the spell is much shorter," he said.

Wednesday was not the hottest day ever in Malvern. That fell on August 3, 1990 when the maximum temperature was 35.8C.

However, it was warm enough for people in Malvern's hottest jobs to suffer, while others stayed cool in air-conditioned offices or Priory Park.

At the Anupam restaurant, in Church Street, owner Kaiser Ahmed said his chefs had to deal with kitchen temperatures of 40C or 42C when it was in the 30s outside.

"It's very, very difficult for them to work," he added. "The best way to deal with the heat is don't talk to each other about it, that makes it worse. Just get on with the job and think that, when you've finished, you can have a nice cool shower."

Gas engineer Paul Yorke spent Wednesday dealing with a gas leak in a loft space, where his thermometer reached 50C.

"I was sweating like a pig. I had to come out every five minutes to get some fresh air," he said.

As temperatures soared, police received several calls about people ignoring warning signs and swimming in the Gullet Quarry, which has claimed a number of lives in recent years.

A spokesman said: "There is a history of serious injuries, and indeed fatalities, resulting from people being tempted to swim or cool off in the quarry pools around the hills, and so our firm advice is `do not be tempted'."

Leading firefighter Martin Gray, of Malvern Fire Station, said the hills were looking very brown and tinged. He advised residents not to smoke, or light barbecues on them.

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