Advice on how to stop your home from overheating as summers get warmer and temperatures rise

A study by the Met Office scientists also showed that this would have been around a one-in-500 year event in a natural climate, where human influences were removed. It is now likely to happen every three to four years.

As for this weekend, the predictions are for dry and sunny weather with temperatures above average.

To mitigate overbearing heat in new homes, Building Regulations now state that developers and self-builders must limit excess solar gain and provide measures that can be introduced to quickly remove the excess heat from the indoor environment.

However, the majority of us live in old houses so here is some advice on ways of keeping those properties cool when the summer heat is on.

*The fashion for large windows and glazed bi-fold and sliding doors means we have more light and bigger and better views but these areas of glass also let in more of the sun’s rays.

Patrick Chester, head of ventilation and building airtightness at Heat, Space and Light Ltd, says: “A set of four metre long sliding doors facing south in midday in summer would produce the equivalent of having the central heating going at full blast in the room.

“If that heat isn’t dealt with, the home will soar past the ambient outdoor air temperature and not cool down again until the sun has gone down.”

Internal blinds do not work particularly well for keeping radiated heat out as they let in around ninety per cent of heat into the home.

External shading is much better and this comes in a variety of forms, including external blinds, which are common in hotter countries and are becoming more prevalent in the UK. You can get them in coated fabric, which looks softer and smarter.

*Another option is a retractable awning. Scarborough based Galea Sunblinds specialises in these and the company has seen a growth in orders over the past few years. The average cost is about £2,000 and the blinds come in a variety of colours and patterns. Part of their allure is that they also create shelter when it rains.

*An overhang or brise soleil, which translates as “sun breaker”, is often used by architects when designing a building.

This was invented by Swiss architect Charles Édouard Jeanneret who first used solar shading on multi-storey buildings in the 1930s. The blades/slats are usually made from aluminium or timber and sit above or across windows.

A properly positioned brise soleil can shade much or all of a south-facing window in summer, while allowing the low set winter sun in.

*Shutters can help keep the sun out of the house and also allow ventilation. They have also become fashionable.

*Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery systems with integrated cooling work very well, though buying and putting one in an existing home, rather than a new-build, can cost upwards of £10,000 and installation will cause significant disruption.

*Less expensive is to look at the Albedo rating of your home, which measures how well the exterior surface reflects solar energy. This translates as white walls will help reflect the sun’s heat and black/dark walls will absorb it, which is why you see many white washed properties in Mediterranean countries.

It also helps not to have large areas of hard landscaping in dark colours adjacent to glazing as this will act as a heat sink.

*Fans can help and the best cool the air rather than simply moving it around. The Dyson Cool Auto React Purifying fan is a best-seller and is an investment item at £449.99 but also includes a HEPA filter, which is helpful for those with allergies to pollen, dust and pet dander.

The Good Housekeeping Institute’s vote goes to the SmartAir Cool+ Purify Bladeless Tower Fan, which is £249 and its budget choice is the Igenix DF0030, £33, from Amazon.

*Age Concern’s advice is that a damp cloth or a splash of water on the back of your neck can help you cool down and it also suggests keeping blinds down and curtains and windows closed. The charity also warns to watch out for signs of dehydration, such as confusion, cramps, dark urine and feeling weak. You don’t have to feel thirsty to be dehydrated.

*Pity those in built-up areas, where the buildings trap heat that can remain for a longer duration. This is called the urban heat island, with the centres of large cities such as London and Manchester are up to 10 C warmer than surrounding rural areas. It is just one of the reasons why the group Trees for Cities is campaigning for more trees in built-up areas.