As temperatures continue to rise in Dorset a wave of warnings has been issued about the effects of the hot weather.

June 2018 is on track to be a record-breaker in terms of heat and lack of rain - but it's sparked a risk of travel disruption, danger to health, heath fires and difficulties for farmers.

The Met Office's heat-health watch alert remains at level two, meaning social and healthcare services are at the ready to reduce harm from a potential heatwave.

Public Health England has issued a warning saying the extreme heat may pose a risk to the most vulnerable.

The rising temperatures have come with warnings to be careful near water and in the countryside, where fire crews have been tackling wildfires.

The heat has already claimed casualties - a 17-year-old boy was found dead in the River Aire in Leeds in the early hours of Wednesday morning following a search and rescue operation.

It is believed he got into difficulties while swimming on Tuesday evening.

Elsewhere the body of 13-year-old Ryan Evans, who went missing on Monday after getting into difficulty in Westport Lake in Stoke-on-Trent, was recovered from the water.

The body of a man was also recovered from a lake in Nutfield, Surrey, on Monday.

The RNLI has urged those heading to the seaside to seek out beaches with a lifeguard.

The RSPCA has spoken out after being inundated with calls from concerned members of the public who have seen dogs left in hot cars.

Commuters have already faced delays after rail services were forced to impose speed limits due to overheating tracks.

Network Rail's extreme weather action teams are being activated across the country to monitor 'vulnerable locations'.

A spokesman for the service said hot weather can cause the steel on rail lines to expand, and in some cases buckle, causing travel disruption.

Slower trains exert lower forces on the track, reducing the likelihood of buckling.

South Western Railway said track temperatures were expected to reach 47 degrees Celsius on many parts of its route this week.

And Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has warned of an increased risk of wildfires because of the heat. Firefighters tackled a blaze on heathland near Wareham on Wednesday.

James Cossins, NFU Dorset County chairman said there are 'real concerns' over the impact on all areas of farming, especially if it doesn't rain within the next fortnight.

"In Dorset we have hardly had any rain for two months, and there's been no measurable rainfall in June at all. Fields are just drying out."

The price of grain and straw could rise due to shortages, he added, and farmers could be faced with having to buy expensive extra feed for their animals.

It comes after a late spring, thanks to Arctic conditions in March, which meant that the spring crops were sown later than usual.

"Since then, there has not really been enough moisture in the air for the crops to reach their full potential," Mr Cossins said.

"This is affecting all sectors. Crops are dry, pig and poultry farmers who rely on grains might have to import extra grains to satisfy demand, which will be expensive."

Mr Cossins said he has not known such a drought since the heatwave of 1976, although he added: "I don't think we are quite that bad yet."

Parts of the south west went 45 days without any rain in July and August in 1976, and the hot, dry weather even affected water supplies.

Temperatures are expected to remain warm over the next few days, with highs of between 22 and 29 degrees Celsius in Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester and Bridport up until Wednesday. No rain is forecast.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Met Office forecasters said: "It will be largely dry, fine and very warm, however it will start to feel more humid and by the end of the weekend there is a small chance of isolated thunderstorms."

A longer-term forecast for July predicts the weather to become more unsettled and changeable.