More than 2,000 young people set off yesterday in bright sunshine for this year's Ten Tors Challenge on Dartmoor. In contrast to last year's two-day competition, when the event was cancelled because of torrential rain, heat is expected to be the major obstacle for most competitors.
The weekend's searing heat compares with the high winds and heavy rain of last year's challenge, when organisers became worried that swollen rivers could claim lives of competitors. During one of the training weekends for the 2007 event, a 14-year-old girl died after being swept away by a river. Competitors had to be evacuated from Dartmoor, many of them by helicopter.
'That is not going to be a problem this year,' said an organiser. Instead, it is feared that the high temperatures could take its toll of the 400 teams of youngsters on the endurance event in Devon.
Each has to walk 35, 45 or 55 miles, between 10 nominated tors (hills) and organisers are keeping a close eye for any signs of heat exhaustion among competitors - who have to carry their own tents and equipment.
'Ten Tors is all about reducing the risk but meeting the challenge,' said Brigadier Jolyon Jackson, Commander of the Army's 43 Wessex Brigade. 'This is a team event. You will get no kudos from coming in on your own.'
'It's very hot for the time of year throughout much of Britain,' Met Office forecaster David Elliott said. 'We've had temperatures of around 26C - that's about 79F - in many areas. Normally, temperatures around 17C, about 62F.'
Most people will enjoy hot weather for several days, bringing relief from the cold that gripped the country two weeks ago. The south-east of England has experienced temperatures that have reached 26.3C, with warm air coming in from the Mediterranean bringing pleasant summer weather to many areas.
'It is not a record heatwave but the weather is significantly warmer than normal,' added Elliott. 'The south-east has had the best of it. In the Midlands and the North there has been a bit of cloud and temperatures have only been about 21 or 22C. However, the heat of the south-east should spread across Britain so that most of the country will experience temperatures of around 25 or 26C today and tomorrow,' he added.
'The beginning of the week will continue to be warm and sunny, though conditions will get cooler, with occasional showers, towards Friday and Saturday.'
Early yesterday parts of Wales were hit by flash flooding after powerful storms brought heavy rain and hailstones.
Homes in several areas of south Wales had to be pumped out when rain poured down at what forecasters called 'an incredible rate'. Emergency teams were called out in Cardiff, Swansea and Chepstow, where a police station was among the buildings flooded knee-deep in water.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to eight houses in Chepstow, and four properties in the Llanishen area of Cardiff, to pump water away. Mid Wales Fire and Rescue Service received 44 calls from people in Swansea when the storms hit. Firefighters had to pumped out water from the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea .
Inspector Sian Flynn of Gwent police said: 'There was exceptional weather in the area, with very heavy rain for a short period.'
