POLICE raced to quell scuffles as huge queues sparked chaos at British lidos on the hottest July day ever.
Cops scrambled to Parliament Hill Lido in Hampstead Heath, North London, and Brockwell Park, South London as tempers flared and temperatures rocketed to 37.7C.
Officers were called after “a group of 500” tried to get into Brockwell Lido and jump the queue.
Jonathan Mitchell, from ITV London, tweeted: “Security lost any control of crowds outside Brockwell Lido now.
“Police called to try and move teenagers who have crashed the queue.”
Another person posted: “I thought 7am would be early enough to beat the queue at Brockwell Lido. I was wrong!”
A third raged: “Got to queue at 8.40 am – an hour later different gangs of teens kept queue barging.
“Told security and they said they wouldn’t let them in but it kept on happening.
“Got to front, another sweat bath of teens, couldn’t get in and they shut doors. Abandoned queue. ATROCIOUS.”
Hundreds of Brits tried to cool off by hitting local lidos for a dip, but three-hour queues snaked from entrances.
Got to queue at 8.40 am – an hour later different gangs of teens kept queue barging
Swimmer queueing at Brockwell Lido
Tooting Bec Lido, South London operated a “1-in, 1-out” system as the crowd of swimmers swelled.
It comes as Britain braces for a possible record-breaking temperature of 40C today.
Police responded to a “number of incidents of disorder” at Parliament Hill.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Officers were first called to the venue at 09:49hrs when a number of minor scuffles broke out as swimmers queued to enter the lido.
“Further incidents of disorder broke-out throughout the day.”
Police were also called to Brockwell Lido after reports of overcrowding.
A police spokesman added: “Security staff at the lido have closed the doors as a group of 500 people are trying to get in.”
The mercury had already hit 32C in London by mid morning amid health warnings, fears of melting pavements and rail chaos on what is being dubbed “Furnace Thursday.”
By lunchtime, it was officially the hottest day of the year so far as the mercury hit 35.1C at Heathrow.
Brits were warned to stay at home and avoid travelling as temperatures rise dramatically across the UK, with many deciding to cool off with a dip.
There were reports that the Friends of Peterborough Lido had huge queues with London Fields also full to capacity.
The queue for Parliament Hill Lido was closed at 10.20am after queues got too large.
A spokesman for City of London Corporation tweeted: “Please be aware that we are now closing the queue for Parliament Hill Lido for the rest of the day as we’re already exceptionally busy with the expected hot weather .
“Please do not arrive at the Lido now as the queue is closed and we will not be able to admit any more swimmers for the rest of the day.
“Sorry for any disappointment, and thank you for your understanding.”
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