Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood will be closed on Thursday, August 13, to protect the welfare of its animals during the high temperatures. A spokesman for the sanctuary said: "Due to the high temperatures forecast for Thursday, we’ve made the decision to close the sanctuary to the public for the day. "We’re really sorry for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause, and thank you so much for your understanding. A rare amber extreme heat warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of Essex, including Brentwood, from 9am to 11.59pm on Thursday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued an amber heat health alert, which came into effect on August 11 and will remain in place until 9pm on August 14.