Andy Burnham has said he will consider imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as extreme heat continues to grip parts of the UK.

The prime minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee later on Wednesday in response to a prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather.

On a visit to Stevenage earlier, he said single-use grills could be banned to help prevent fires.

”There is obviously a significant problem of wildfires in the south. The New Forest fire is a great concern; we have seen them in northern areas as well as Suffolk recently.”

He added: “This is a message for the public as well, because the wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable barbecues.”

It comes as temperatures are forecast to reach 33C today and up to 38C tomorrow.