Smog warning for soccer fans as sun bakes England

LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) England fans planning to watch their team's opening World Cup match at garden barbecues today were told to cover up and drink plenty of water as the hot weather triggered the summer's first smog warning.

Temperatures in southeast England, which is already suffering from the worst drought in a century, are expected to rise to 30 or 31 degrees centigrade over the weekend, the Meteorological Office said.

''If you are drinking alcohol, make sure you are mixing it with water as you can easily get dehydrated in temperatures like this,'' said a Met Office spokeswoman.

''And put on the sun cream -- it's going to be hotter than we would normally expect at this time of year.'' The environment department said high levels of ozone and other air pollutants were forecast today for eastern and southern England as well as the east and west Midlands.

It said people with asthma, lung or heart problems could find their symptoms worsen and should take care or adjust any medication.

A combination of clear sunny skies and polluted winds blowing from continental Europe were to blame for the drop in air quality, which would persist until at least Monday, it said.

It is the first smog warning since June last year.

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