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Britain set for disposable barbecue ban as Andy Burnham looks at new laws

PM Andy Burnham warned he is looking at outlawing single-use grills to help prevent wildfires, as Britain faces its hottest summer on record with heatwave response measures ramping up

[Burnham is considering the ban]

Burnham is considering the ban(Image: Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)

Andy Burnham could ban disposable barbecues in an effort to prevent the risk of further wildfires. The Prime Minister indicated he is considering prohibiting single-use grills to help prevent fires, as the country continues to endure extreme heat.

Burnham is set to host an emergency Cobra committee later today in response to a prolonged period of exceptionally hot and dry weather. But during a visit to Stevenage, he stated: "There is obviously a significant problem of wildfires in the south. The New Forest fire is a great concern; we have seen them in northern areas as well as Suffolk recently.

"This is a message for the public as well, because the wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable barbecues.

[A ban could be on its way (stock)]

A ban could be on its way (stock)(Image: Getty Images)

"I do believe we need to get the message out loud and clear. People should not be using those barbecues outside at this moment in time.", reports the Mirror.

"I don't know yet what the remedy is, but I do want to leave the meeting today with a loud and clear message that we do want people to take the greatest possible care when they are out in the countryside, both in terms of cigarettes, but also those temporary barbecues that we know are causing risk of fires."

Britain has been grappling with heatwaves in recent months, experiencing its fifth of the year in what the Met Office has declared as the hottest summer on record.

The Prime Minister's Cobra meeting, which will be attended by ministers, officials and agencies, is the second of its kind this year to address heatwaves, following a previous meeting in June amidst soaring temperatures. A spokesperson from Downing Street acknowledged that firefighters, farmers and NHS staff are all grappling with challenges related to the weather.

This comes as parts of the UK brace for blistering 38C temperatures later this week, while a firefighters' union chief has issued a stark warning that the country is facing a "national emergency" due to wildfires.

Uncommon amber "extreme heat" warnings have been issued by forecasters for London and parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire from 9am to midnight on Thursday.

In recent weeks, most major UK supermarkets have halted sales of disposable barbecues, believed to be in accordance with voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

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