POLICE are asking for patience from the public following an unprecedented rise in demand across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

Saturday, July 7, was the second busiest day in Devon and Cornwall’s history with approaching 1,500 incidents that required a police response — a normal Saturday would be in the region of 750.

Dorset experienced the highest number of 999 calls ever in a single 24-hour-period outside of New Year’s Eve; this is on the back of an unprecedented rise in demand across the alliance over the summer months.

The rise in demand has been blamed on the heatwave, along with the increase in number of visitors to the area and the euphoria of England’s progress in the World Cup.

On top of this the police were responsible for offering mutual aid to partners in Wiltshire, as well as in London during Donald Trump’s visit to the UK.