Record temperatures are set to continue for at least a month, forecasters said.

The Met Office said Cumbria will be able to bask in the sun until at least August and enjoy the benefits to tourism and local businesses.

Nigel Wilkinson, the managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises, said: “As an outdoor attraction we do better when we get good weather.

“It can sometimes be too hot which is detrimental to business.

“We are concerned about the lake level which is quite low at the moment, we don’t want the heat to damage the ecology of the area.

“The consensus from us is that the weather can stay like this as long as we get some rain at night.”

As well as providing a boost to ice cream sellers and outdoor food sellers, the warm weather has also created a increase in sales for toy shops.

Outdoor attractions around the county have also seen a dramatic increase in visitors.

Areas in the Lake District are particularly busy at this time of year with high numbers of tourists and locals enjoying the heat basking at the lakes.

Despite forecasters saying the warm weather is to stay around, temperatures going forward should not be as hot as last week.

Forecaster Brian Gaze said: “Parallels with the famous 1976 summer can be made.

“There’s no sign of an end to the heat. Warmth looks like continuing for the first half of July.

“And forecast models point to above-average temperatures for much of July and August.”