The Papers: Brits pack beaches as travellers 'kept in dark'

Image caption Brits packed out beaches on what was the hottest August day in 17 years, sparking travel chaos and more coronavirus fears, reports the Daily Mirror. The paper notes that as temperatures hit 36.4C, there was traffic jams and concerns about whether social distancing was being adhered to. Image caption The UK could be on course for a heatwave record, says the i. The paper says the forecast is for the hottest three-day spell since 1990. It comes as big crowds were seen at beaches, lakes and parks. Image caption The Daily Telegraph reports a warning from MPs that holidaymakers are being “left in the dark” by a “grossly unfair” lack of transparency on quarantine restrictions. It comes as some travellers cancelled trips over fears France will be placed on the government’s list of countries requiring people to quarantine for 14 days on their return to the UK. Image caption The Guardian leads on revelations that nearly 40% of A-level grades submitted by teachers are to be downgraded when exam results in England are published next week. According to an analysis by the paper, that will result in nearly 300,000 A-levels being lower than teacher assessments. Image caption In other coronavirus news, Chancellor Rishi Sunak's stamp duty cut propelled the housing market to its highest values of all time, reports the Daily Express. The paper says prices "rocketed" by 3.8% year-on-year in July to record highs. Image caption The Daily Mail says its charity, Mail Force, has raised £11m and provided more than 30 million pieces of personal protective equipment to the nation. The paper says the achievement was reached 100 days after its first delivery to the coronavirus frontline. Image caption Ministers are considering blocking migrant boats in the Channel before they can enter British waters, according to the Times. The paper says the approach - part of what it calls an "increasingly desperate effort" to stem the rising number of crossings - is modelled on Australian tactics used against migrants from Indonesia. Image caption The Financial Times leads with Donald Trump's imposition of sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials and barring of US companies from doing business with leading Chinese technology companies. The paper says it is an "unprecedented move" and a sharp escalation of his campaign against Beijing. Image caption And finally, the sister of Tara Palmer-Tomkinson has claimed to have been visited by the ghost of the socialite, reports the Daily Star. A former "It girl", Palmer-Tomkinson died in 2017.

Sign up for a morning briefing direct to your inbox