Households in England and Wales are being urged to keep their curtains and blinds closed today. This week the UK has basked in an unseasonably hot spell with sizzling temperatures of 29.3C recorded at Kew Gardens, London - the UK's highest ever May 1 temperature. Cardiff reached 27.4C making it the highest recorded for Wales.

Following a surge of warmth this week, temperatures for most of the country are to slide back to more normal levels for this time of the year, however parts of the UK can still expect balmy conditions. Homes across England and Wakles in particular will be baking hot as the May sunshine cooks us in our well-insulated buildings built to withstand the cold British winters rather than heatwave conditions.

It means that households are being urged to take steps to keep their house cool in the sunshine.

Although it can be tempting to draw back your curtains and open the windows to allow the sunshine to seep into your house but it is best to keep these closed to stop the warm air entering.

As a measure to block out the sweltering heat, closing curtains during warmer temperatures can help keep your home cooler by blocking direct sunlight from entering through windows. This is especially effective in rooms facing the sun.

Energy experts are dishing out advice on how to keep our homes cool without burning cash. OVO Energy advises against the urge to open windows during a heatwave, saying: "Tempting as it is to fling open the windows at the first sign of summer, it's not actually the best idea. To keep your house cool, you need to keep the hot air out."

Millions of Brits believe blasting flans or leaving windows wide open will cut through the heat but Andy Kerr, the founder of BOXT, says these commonly believed cooling techniques might not only be ineffective but also strip your wallet of hard earned cash.

The heating professional said: "Getting rid of unwanted heat in your home can be difficult in the summer months, especially when most UK properties are built to retain heat. While grabbing a fan or opening up all your windows are often mentioned as effective ways to cool your home, these methods may not result in the desired results.

"Instead of opening all your windows, it is much better to strategically open windows to create cross breezes throughout the day and open your windows during the night to let cooler air in."