This week looks set to turn sunny after several weeks of rain, prompting everyone to make the most of the fine weather. But water experts have issued a warning about a disease that can lurk in hot tubs and paddling pools.
Plumbing experts have shared the risks of Legionnaires' disease, which can develop in stagnant water. The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) has provided crucial advice on how to stay safe as families enjoy their final weeks out of school.
While the risks posed by legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease, are relatively minor for healthy adults, they can be more severe for children or anyone with a weakened immune system.
Symptoms include headaches, muscle pains, coughing and fever after inhaling the bacteria. In extreme cases, the disease can be fatal, warns the institute. READ MORE: Greater Manchester weather: Temperatures to soar to 26C today as heat health alert kicks in The bacteria thrives in stagnant water between 20-45C, so it's essential to drain any water that's been sitting in a warm environment for a while.