As Britain baked in the summer heatwave, we’ve had a glimpse of some of the problems we’re going to have to address if weather like this becomes more common in the future.

Water shortages, field fires and heat-related hospital admissions are just some of the problems we saw at home and across the globe on our television screens.

I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the emergency services, especially here in Barking and Dagenham, for their response.

And I want to say a further big thank you to the front-line council staff who carried out their jobs in the high temperatures, particularly those who work outside like Public Realm workers - I know it can’t have been easy.

But when it hasn’t been quite so hot, it’s fair to say we’ve made the most of the summer sun, enjoying the outdoors and each other’s company, whether at BBQs with friends and family, or at fayres, fetes and festivals here in Barking and Dagenham and elsewhere.

Our Summer of Festivals events have seen tens of thousands of people attending so far, and we’ve got more to come.

On Bank Holiday Monday (August 27) in Central Park we will have the Roundhouse Music Festival with tributes to Bon Jovi, Madness and Queen, as well as talented unsigned acts who will battle it out in the final of the Roundhouse Unsigned competition.

And then on Sunday, September 16 we’ll have our fifth annual Youth Parade to celebrate our borough’s young people. We’re working hard to make sure this is the biggest and best yet.