The leader of North West Leicestershire District Council defended its Zero Carbon policy on the hottest day ever seen in the UK.

The council has pledged to ensure it has a Zero Carbon footprint by 2030, and to support the wider district to become carbon neutral by 2050.

But Cllr Richard Blunt - who chaired Tuesday's meeting of the council Cabinet - said last week's soaring temperatures only underlined the importance of what NWLDC was doing.

Cllr Blunt was responding to a report on the council's Zero Carbon Roadmap during the meeting.

He told councillors: "Sitting here on the hottest day in the history of our country.

"If there were two things that should go together.

"Zero Carbon and the hottest day we've ever had.

Cllr Richard Blunt

"There has been some discussion among the Conservative candidates this week about how important this is.

"I'd say it's very important.

"There will always be barriers when it comes to progress being made.

"But, as far as I'm concerned, this should always be one that gets our attention and our priority.

"It's really important for me that we do this on the things that we can control.

"Adopting technology, supporting electric cars and improving our housing stock, that's a massive one."