Dukes Meadows Extends Opening Due to Heatwave

Play area and paddling pool to remain open until weather breaks

As weather watchers wait to see if this weekend's heatwave will break October records, the Dukes Meadow Trust has announced it will extend its summer opening to help families keep cool.

Normally the kiosk at the popular play area shuts at the end of September apart from weekends, and rumours had spread that the paddling pool area had been drained already.

But a spokesman for the Trust said that , due to the unusually hot weather, the contractors had agreed to keep all services open on a daily basis until the weather breaks. The water had been drained because some broken glass had been thrown in but this was a temporary measure he said. The pool and kiosk will be open throughout the weekend and into early next week at least.

Kew Gardens was the UK hotspot of the week with 28.8 degrees Celcius recorded on Thursday – the hottest ever temperature for September 29.

The current October record is for 29.4 degrees .

September 30, 2011