East Devon District Council said bin collection crews would be starting collections at 06:00 BST during the warmer weather period so rounds could be completed "in the cooler parts of the day".

The RSPCA urged dog owners to "think twice before taking your dog out in the heat as even a short walk can lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal".

"If [the ground] is too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their paws," it said.

"Avoid walking during the day - stick to early mornings or late evenings, make sure they have plenty of cool water and shade."