COMMUNITY leaders from across the borough have reacted to this week's scorching temperatures, which saw the mercury hit 35 degrees on Tuesday.

According to the Romsey Advertiser's meteorologist, Andy Simmonds, the highest temperature recorded at the Mottisfont weather station was 37.5 degrees in August 2003.

This means Tuesday's temperature was the second highest recording in August for 17 years.

Andy stressed the "August average daily maximum temperature at Mottisfont is 22.5 degrees, so Tuesday’s August 11th’s reading was 13 degrees above the 2001-2010 long-term average”.

Now, councillors are calling on residents to step up their fight against climate change in reaction to the scorching figure.

Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, who represents Romsey Cupernham on Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC), said: "I think one of the things that comes out of this data is we are jolly well going towards global warming quickly.

"I do think we can do something about it in our area and we need to consider all of the things that affect our climate, because during lockdown when people were not going around in their cars as much the temperatures did seem lower.

"It is a bit like a chicken and egg situation, because when we have warmer weather people tend to go out more, so cars are used more as a result and the temperatures seem to rise."

She added: "Test Valley Borough Council are also doing a major push about how we can deal with climate change, as part of their action plan."

Cllr Mark Cooper, who represents Romsey Tadburn on the borough council, said: "It is evident that the increase in high temperatures is one of the factors of climate change.

"Nobody believed climate change was an issue 20 years ago, but it is very clear it is now due to the extreme temperatures we are having during the summer and the winter.

He added is it important we "live our lives in a carbon neutral way" to tackle the environmental issue.

Cllr Celia Dowden, who represents North Baddesley on the borough council, said: "This is another reason for all of us to make small steps towards changing our lives by making sure we are bringing down our carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible. "This is also the time to check on older residents who you may know, by calling them or seeing them in a socially distanced way, to make sure they are well.

"This is because older people can be more vulnerable in high temperatures."