Farmers fear hot weather will devastate their crops

FARMERS across Derbyshire fear the rising temperatures could destroy crops as the hot weather continues.

The Met Office has issued a health watch warning for the county and says there is a 60% chance of the temperature hitting 30C – making it an official heatwave for the first time in three years.

water works: Fun in the park on one of the hottest days of the year so far. Children cool down in the paddling pool at Markeaton Park. Pictured are (left) Lily Pearson, aged five, and Gracie Pearson, seven.

But while people have been out enjoying the sunshine and splashing around in the water at Markeaton Park, farmers say such hot weather so early on in the summer could be devastating for their crops.

Angela Sargent, county vice-chairman of the National Farmers' Union, said the forecast temperatures were far from ideal.

She said: "As far as animals are concerned they tend to look after themselves and will find shade, which often makes it difficult when it comes to counting them as they hide under trees and bushes.

"But where the crops are concerned, the dry weather has presented a problem.

"At this time of year the crops will just be forming the seeds and like anything in the garden they need a lot of moisture.

"When they are ready you want hot weather so it dries them out so you can combine them.

"Instead we are getting the high temperatures early on and not the light showers needed, which will potentially devastate the corn crops."

The Met Office has already issued a heat health watch for the county which is currently at level two.

Once it hits level three, hospitals will put plans into action by opening cool rooms for vulnerable patients as well as putting fans in wards.

Met Office forecaster John Hammond said temperatures in Derby would reach the 28 degree mark today, with temperatures dropping to about 26 degrees at the end of the week.

He said: "There is a chance of some thunderstorms but that is all part and parcel with hot weather.

"If it does rain there will be a lot of water in a short space of time.

"The average temperatures in Derbyshire for June are already one degree above the long-term average.

"The average rainfall for the month is in keeping with past years but the amount of sunshine is above average.

"Up until the weekend there had already been 180 hours of sunshine in the month."

Over the past few days people from across the county have been basking in the sunshine and parks have been packed with residents enjoying the warm temperatures.

Steve Medlock, head of parks at Derby City Council, said: "As ever when you get a bit of hot weather people want to be near some water and out in the sunshine and as usual Markeaton Park has proved to be very popular."