Heatwave persists, British beaches, lake resorts jammed

Stores in England said there was a rush on beach gear and food fit for grilling this weekend as a sultry heat wave persisted. Temperatures were pushing 90 degrees Fahrenheit in much of the country, and generally sunny skies had scores of people enjoying the outdoors. The Tesco supermarket chain estimated it would sell 9 million sausages this weekend, and other stores reported runs on sunscreen, charcoal and coolers, The Daily Telegraph said Saturday. Hay fever medications were likely to be a hot sellers due to the soaring pollen count caused by the hot weather. An estimated 11 million people were expected to clog the roads this weekend, heading to the coast and the Lakes district in particular. Health and emergency officials cautioned people to stay hydrated, check on the elderly and avoid too much sun. They also were concerned in particular with people swimming in deep pools in rock quarries, which can be much colder than they appear and hide debris and other dangerous obstacles.