EAST Lothian is basking in summer heat as the mercury topped 30 degrees Celsius in the county, but officials have urged residents to remain cautious in the hot conditions.

Musselburgh took the dubious honour of being the hottest town in the county, reaching 30 degrees Celsius earlier this afternoon, with Prestonpans, Haddington and Dunbar all reaching 29 degrees Celsius.

Residents have been taking their chance to enjoy the hot conditions, with town centres quiet as the county heads down to the beaches.

An amber weather warning has been put in place by the Met Office across Scotland for 'extreme heat' and this is to continue into tomorrow, when the hottest conditions are due to arrive.

With the extreme temperatures, the public have been urged to remain cautious with the heat, in particular with health-related issues that can arise with abnormally hot conditions.

East Lothian Council advised the public to stay indoors or shaded from the sun between the hours of 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest, especially as the temperature is set to rise even further tomorrow.

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They encouraged people to drink plenty of cool fluids throughout the day, as well as eating foods with high water content such as salads and fruit.

They also advised the public to take cool showers or baths and to sprinkle water on their skin and clothing, or keep a damp cloth on the back of their neck.

Officials also reminded the public of the dangers of dehydration and activities that could raise the risk, such as drinking alcohol or intense physical exertion.

An East Lothian Council spokesperson added: "People are being encouraged to stay hydrated and look out for those who are vulnerable – such as older people, those with underlying conditions and those living alone may struggle to keep cool and hydrated.

"The Met Office has warned that some people are likely to experience some adverse health effects, including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat-related illnesses.

"If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion – headache, feeling confused or dizzy, rapid pulse or fast breathing, body cramps (particularly in the arms, legs and stomach), feeling sick or vomiting – they need to be shaded from the sun and cooled down.

"Heat exhaustion is not normally serious if the person is treated within 30 minutes and symptoms begin to improve.

"Ensure that babies, children or older people are not left alone in stationary cars or other closed spaces. Animals should not be transported in extreme temperatures.

"The Met Office is also warning of an increased risk of wildfires and disruption to transport.

"The risk of safety incidents and drownings can increase in hot weather and people should be aware of the dangers and use supervised beaches and pools when possible – follow the Water Safety Code and in an emergency call 999."