SUNWORSHIPPERS were set to bask in one more day of heatwave in York today, with temperatures predicted to soar once again as high as 26C.

But weathermen had some relief in store for those who have found the recent heat a little too much to bear, with a cold front expected to cross the region tonight and bring noticeably cooler weather by tomorrow.

RAF Linton on Ouse recorded 26 Centigrade, or almost 79 Fahrenheit, at 2pm yesterday, but temperatures are expected to fall to a much more comfortable 21 C, or 70 Fahrenheit, tomorrow, with bright or sunny spells and showers, with similar conditions expected for much of next week.

Yesterday children were enjoying the sunshine and the pig racing at Piglets at Farmers Cart at Towthorpe Grange, while others chose to cool off in the pool at David Lloyd gym in York at at York Maze. Meanwhile there were traffic tailbacks on the A64 heading towards the coast as people took advantage of the good weather.

York Hospital has said it is doing all it can to keep patients cool during the hot spell, with ward temperatures monitored, drinks rounds increased and ice pops ordered to keep patients cool.

Patient Christine Dinsdale, 80, said: “The staff have not been in half an hour and their uniforms are soaked with sweat. It’s melting the ice water they bring us. Both the patients and the staff are suffering.”

A spokeswoman said that unfortunately the age and fabric of the building meant air conditioning could not be installed in all of the ward areas, although freestanding air conditioning units were being brought in for the higher risk areas. “We are able to move high-risk, vulnerable patients to cooler areas if needed and if it is clinically safe to move them,” she said.