Sea swimmer Tim Bell attempted to measure the sea temperature along the Kent coastline this afternoon (July 19), on the day UK temperature records were broken.

Mr. Bell used a thermometer with temperature probe to record the sea temperature, close to the shore at Sheerness beach.

At 3.30pm the probe in the sea displayed a reading averaging 25 deg C (the lower reading seen in the footage).

The device also showed the air temperature in the sunlight as 37 deg C, but meteorologists only measure temperature in the shade rather than direct sunlight, which is less accurate.

However, a local weather station in Sheerness did record an outside air temperature of 38 deg C (in the shade) at just after 2pm this afternoon.