Welney Wetland Centre will close three hours early on Thursday due to the amber weather warning issued by the Met Office. "We have made this decision to protect the health and wellbeing of our staff and visitors during this period of extreme heat," a spokesman for the centre said. The opening times will be from 9.30am to 2pm, with last admission on the reserve at 1pm. "Wetlands can act as a shield against extreme weather events, including heatwaves, providing protection for both people and wildlife," the spokesman added. There is also a heat-health alert currently in place for the east of England, which will last until Friday at 9pm.