THE RSPCA today issued a warning to drivers not to leave their dogs in cars in hot and sunny weather, saying animals can be very quickly killed by heatstroke and owners could be prosecuted as a result.

The charity says pets should not be kept in vehicles as temperatures remain high -- and those who do leave animals in cars could face prosecution.

The warning comes as we all leave our car windows down and wind our sun roofs up to keep cool in the hot spell.

But what is the best way for us to keep chilled in a heatwave?

Taxi driver Mohammed Arif, of Blackburn, plans to plunge his feet in a bowl of ice-cold water when he gets home. After hours of sitting in a black cab-cum-oven, battling through town centre traffic, Mr Arif will be treating his tootsies to a well-earned cooldown.

Margaret Russell, also of Blackburn, suffers from migraines and believes the best way to keep cool is to stay out of the sun between noon and 4pm, when the weather is generally at its hottest. "You can easily get burned, so it's best to be sensible," she said.

A trip to McDonald's was the order of the day for Danielle Ball of Blackburn and her three children, Teejay Miller, 22 months, Amy Bolton, 4, and Jessica Bolton, 6, with the youngsters tucking into chilled drinks and ice creams.

They had planned to buy ices from Well Bread continental bakery in the indoor market but a huge queue made them change their minds.

However Well Bread's owner Joel Feingold, who also owns Joel's Sweets, did not suggest a cooling ice cream. His suggestions for keeping cool were: "Don't work -- go to Fellfoot National Park and play in Lake Windermere."

With him were schoolfriends Ben Woods, 12, and Ben Godkin, 11, from the Priory High School, Preston. They had no tips for staying cool, but their idea of "cool" was -- pop sensation Britney Spears.

Gardener Neil Hummer of Blackburn, a gardener working on an estate in Wilpshire, said if he had the time, opportunity and money he would cool down with a refreshing beer outside a country pub.