Bright sunshine over Europe

As Britain and other parts of Europe are going through a historical meteorological period which is featuring bright sunshine and high temperatures, British workers should be allowed to swap ties and jackets for shorts and T-shirts during Britain's heatwave, a union group said yesterday.

Meanwhile residents and tourists alike in places like Paris and Zurich sought to cool down by the banks of rivers and lakes while others went as far as to swim in fountains.

In Britain the Met Office this week issued a heatwave warning, the first for three years, saying temperatures should soar to about 33˚C in London today.

The scorching weather prompted the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to urge employers to adopt a more relaxed approach to office attire and uniform requirements.

"The TUC believes that the best way for staff to keep cool inside when it's swelteringly hot outside is for them to be able to sport less formal, more casual clothing, and come into work in shirt sleeves and shorts," the union said in a press release.

"We'd like British bosses to think seriously this week about how they can make their workplaces cooler and their staff less overheated," TUC general secretary Brendan Barber added.

"Employers have got to remember that it's no fun working in a baking office or factory and they should be doing all they can to take the temperatures down," Mr Barber said.