Shoppers hoping to cool down in the heatwave may struggle – hot weather essentials are selling out across Norfolk.

The mercury is set to reach a sweltering 34C in the East this week and people are rushing to the shops in a desperate bid to stay cool.

Chris Edye, owner of the famous Ronaldo Ice Cream Barrow in Norwich's London Street, is preparing for a bumper week.

The company also has a number of barrows in north Norfolk as well as an ice cream production wholesale unit in Dereham Road.

Mr Edye said: "We've seen demand double this week because the environment is a perfect storm. We've got kids off on school holiday as well as a heatwave, so everyone is looking to buy an ice cream."

Mr Edye said the team usually makes around 800 litres of ice cream up to seven days a week which is stocked in the barrows as well as other ice cream parlours.

"Over the weekend we made deliveries which we thought would last until Friday, but I'm loading up another van today to top some places up," he said. Mr Edye said Norfolk's favourite ice cream flavour was vanilla.

"Salted caramel has caught up in the last few years - we're seeing a lot of people buying it to accompany desserts in their business."

Roys of Wroxham said they had also seen their paddling pools "selling like hot cakes".

A spokeswoman said: "The current heatwave has seen a massive increase in sales of pools - up 406% from last week. Roys have been very happy to help customers that are local to our stores along with customers nationally as we have seen online sales increase likewise.

"Roys' range of pools has meant we have something for all budgets including toddler pools to 18ft pools along with spas for a more luxurious way of cooling down."

They added that they have also seen the sales of fans, sun cream, insect repellent, barbecues and ice rocket.

Hundreds of fans were being bought online from Argos before bricks-and-mortar stores had even opened.

Only Argos stores in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft had any basic 12 inch desk fans left - people elsewhere will have to wait for new deliveries dues before the weekend.