Havering and Essex places to cool down during heatwave

The Met Office has extended its red weather warning for "extreme heat" to Friday (June 26) - and added an amber warning for Saturday (June 27) - meaning London and south east England will swelter for a few more days.

In Havering, temperatures are forecast to hit 36C on Friday, before dropping down to the mid to late 20s at the weekend.

With that in mind, below are five places in Havering and Essex for all ages to cool down.

Five places to cool down in Havering and south Essex

Stubbers Adventure Centre, Upminster

Stubbers is an adventure activity centre in Ockendon Road offering a host of water-based activities for all ages, including kayaking, paddle boarding yoga and open water swimming.

The centre gets 4.7 stars on TripAdvisor, with one reviewer calling it a "true hidden local gem".

King George's Splash Pad, Brentwood

This splash pad at King George's Playing Fields in Brentwood is designed with younger children in mind, complete with water jets, fountains, and cylinder sprays.

Each session is 25 minutes long and children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration.

Raphael Park, Romford

Although there is no swimming involved here, Raphael Park's lakeside location and shady areas under the trees make it a great option for cooling down.

CREM Kitchen and St Raphael's Park Cafe both offer light bites, cold drinks and ice creams for after your park visit.

Grays Beach Riverside Park, Grays

As the name suggests, this park overlooks the Thames Estuary, but also offers a large pirate ship play equipment, surrounded by a sand pit area, and a splash pad.

The splash park is open from 11am until 6.30pm, with wristbands available from Lightship Cafe on the day.

The Destination @ Lakeside, West Thurrock

Open on weekends and during the school holidays, The Destination @ Lakeside is an amusement park tucked away at Lakeside Shopping Centre.

It is complete with a free beach, splash pool, rides and bar, making it great for the whole family.