Birmingham experienced its hottest July day ever yesterday as the Midlands basked in what is expected to be the end of the heatwave.

Temperatures in the city reached 34.9C (95F), equalling the previous hottest day in the city, in August 2003.

The all-time British record for July was broken when thermometers hit 36.3C (97.3F) at Charlwood, near Gatwick Airport, in Surrey.

The previous record was 36C (97F), set on July 22, 1911 in Epsom, Surrey.

Across the Midlands, temperatures reached record figures , with Pershore 34.3C (93.7F), However, forecasters predicted a break in the hot weather today.

Liz Anetts of the PA Weather Centre last night said: "We will be experiencing showers in Birmingham overnight and Thursday morning but it should clear by lunchtime. It will be a fine day but it won't be as hot as it has been. Right through to the weekend, temperatures will be about average for this time of year, about 26C (79F)."

The temperatures are likely to rise again by the beginning of the next week, Ms Anetts added.

The weather has seen fire fighters in the West Midlands stretched with the huge number of calls to grass fires.

Officers are being called to 1,000 fires a day, the majority involving dry vegetation being set alight.

Incidents ranged from a coal-fired barge setting fire to a grass embankment to fires started by youths.

"We are receiving three to four times the number of calls we would normally receive," said a spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service. "While we are dealing with these calls we would urge the public to be extra vigilant about fire safety, particularly when disposing of cigarettes and matches."

The temperatures also caused blanket speed limit restriction to be put in place for trains after rail lines buckled in the West Midlands.

The restrictions caused a third day of delays across the region's network yesterday.

Meanwhile, Severn Trent warned that residents in Shrewsbury could be without water today after a power cut at a treatment works.

A spokesman said there was a "real risk" that 43,000 homes could have no water if demand exceeded normal levels between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

Consumption had risen by 200 million litres per day, the equivalent of 800,000 extra people, the water company said.

The rising mercury also forced bookmakers William Hill to pull the plug on bets for the UK temperature to reach 100F (38C).

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "We are already facing a payout of £100,000 or more if we hit 100F, after taking bets at odds as long as 20/1 at the start of the year. One customer in Bolton has bet £800 at odds of 6/1 that it will happen and stands to collect £5,600.

"We have temporarily suspended the book in case the 100F barrier is breached during Wednesday without our knowledge."

Mr Sharpe said despite the heat, betting on a white Christmas had already begun, with William Hill offering 8/1 of snow falling on December 25 in London, Cardiff or Glasgow.