PUPILS at a school in Dursley have been told to ditch their usual school uniform to help get them through this week's heatwave.

Mercury levels are expected to soar over the coming days with the Met Office issuing a rare 'extreme heat' amber warning for the weekend. It states that there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness as a result of the scorching temperatures.

Other issues could include road closures and delays or cancellations to rail and air travel. The forecaster added that it could be extended to Monday next week.

Instead of wearing the usual blazer and tie, students have been given permission to wear full PE kit. 

David Alexander, headteacher of Rednock said: “There has been a lot of discussion in recent days, with parents, carers and the students about the heat and school uniform.

“As a consequence, the senior leadership team has listened and decided to support the request to wear the school PE kit instead of the normal uniform. 

“We hope that this will mean that students feel cooler and not restricted in the heat. 

“We are aiming to implement this from Wednesday 13th July so students would come to school in their PE kit on that morning.

“We are proposing this as a choice; students can wear their usual uniform should they wish.

"We can review this should the weather change." 

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The advice comes as Dursley and the UK was tipped for an even hotter Monday than this weekend as more soaring temperatures are predicted this week. 

Other schools nearby in Marling School in Stroud, Sir William Romney’s School in Tetbury and Maidenhill School in Stonehouse have also changed their uniform policy due to the weather. 

The Met Office, which issued the extreme heat amber warning, said it is in place from 12.01am on Sunday to 11.59pm, when temperatures are predicted to soar into the 30s.