Energy firm British Gas is urging customers to keep their houses cool with one very unusual method: avoiding eating in the kitchen.

With the UK enjoying sizzling temperatures of up to 29C in parts of England and the rest of the UK this week , most of us are looking to any way we can to avoid making our already hot houses any warmer.

As well as all the usual advice about closing windows, shutting curtains and using cold drinks to keep cool, British Gas has a tip about how and where to eat to avoid warming your house.

It told customers to stick to salad, or use a barbecue to cook outside instead of running a hot oven or hob on already hot evenings.

The energy firm said: “Eat meals outside. Using the oven or hob can create extra warmth so instead of unnecessarily heating up your kitchen, take advantage of warm summer evenings in the garden instead. Fire up the BBQ or throw together a healthy summer salad.”

Another tip is about the clothes you wear during the heat. Loose, light clothes are better, while a dehumidifier can also work to reduce temperature inside the air.

It added: “Wear loose, lightweight clothing made of natural fibres like cotton and linen. Use an icepack, chilled hot water bottle or cold cloth on your wrists and feet for an instant cold hit. And if it’s really stuffy inside, consider a dehumidifier. It’ll pull the moisture out of the air and let your skin breathe better.”

Fortunately for those who can’t handle the heat, the weather is set to cool slightly in the coming days.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson explained: “The recent very warm weather for the time of year is subsiding over the weekend as a weak cold front moves over the UK. We expect cooler temperatures as the front pushes south. This cooler air will also help introduce isolated showers across eastern parts, but it should stay drier further west.

“Sunday will feel much cooler compared to recent days, with temperatures falling slightly below average for the time of year. We can expect mid-to-low double figures for many, and even single figures for those further north.”