Mercury is rising on the London Underground - commuters look desperate for some fresh air on the Victoria line Jas Lehal

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WEATHER experts have issued the UK's highest-ever heatwave alert as temperatures in London hit a new high.

As London sizzled amid the hottest temperatures in the country, the Met Office sent out the UK’s first-ever "red level" heatwave warning, raising the status from level two to level three - putting health services on high alert for casualties of the scorching weather over the next two days.

The sizzling heat meant it was a very uncomfortable journey home for Tube commuters, who squeezed into humid sauna-like carriages as the evening rush-hour began.

Armed with a thermometer, our reporter Dominic Tobin recorded a sweaty 38C on the Central line and an uncomfortable 32C on the Jubilee line.

Claire Webster, 27, from Clapham, was travelling on the Northern line, where packed passengers endured 35C heat.

She said: “It’s so humid and sweaty. The carriage is literally a sauna.

“This happens every single year and it ruins the summer in London because you know you’ve got to travel on the Tube. I haven’t got a choice.

“I think it’s the most important thing to sort out in London.

“They should rebuild it if they need to. I hate it.”

Maths student James Hopkins, 23, from Highgate, north London, said: “I don’t understand why we haven’t got air conditioning on the train.

“Most of the line was built 10 years ago or it’s overground, so it should definitely be possible. The mayor needs to sort it out.”

The scorching heat and Met Office alert means NHS staff have been briefed to keep hospital patients cool, and community care teams are stepping up checks on vulnerable people and the elderly.

The Department of Health and Met Office drew up their emergency plan during the 2003 heatwave, when more than 2,000 elderly people died from heat-related conditions.

On Wednesday, temperatures in west London were higher than anywhere in Britain - with the mercury soaring to 33C (92F), the highest so far this year.

The temperature means the capital is hotter than Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City - and Met Office forecasters say Thursday could be even hotter.

Calls to the emergency services were already up by a fifth yesterday, compared with same day last week.

Jason Killens, of the London Ambulance Service, said: “Hot weather can be very dangerous for the young, older people or those with serious illnesses.

"With the temperatures set to be high over the next few days, our priority will continue to be to respond to patients who are seriously ill or injured.

“The last few days have been very busy for both our control room and frontline staff and we would urge everyone to take care when they are out and about in the sun this week."

NHS Direct has already received 378 calls from people suffering from heat-related symptoms.

The new high-level warning means NHS staff must keep wards and patients’ rooms below 26C and provide cool drinks.

They are urged to turn off unnecessary lights and electrical equipment to stay cool.

It’s likely that visiting hours will be moved to mornings or evenings, while community teams must make phone checks on high-risk individuals.

Forecaster Helen Chivers said: "We rose to a level-three (red) status today and things could get even hotter tomorrow. West London is the hottest place in Britain and we would urge people to, when they can, just find a cool room and avoid the direct sunshine."