Aldi sold more than 2.5million units of ice cream between Monday and Wednesday across Britain this week as the heatwave grips the nation. 

The German supermarket chain said sales of ice cream across its shops rose by 144 per cent week-on-week. 

Aldi said sales of barbecue staples have surged during the current heatwave. 

The chain said it sold 80 per cent more smash burgers and quarter pounders this week than in the same week a year ago. 

Approximately 80,000 hotdogs have been sold in Aldi shops this week alone, the supermarket said.   

With the World Cup football tournament in full swing, beer sales have also risen sharply. 

Aldi sold 34 per cent more beer in the 24 hours before the England versus Ghana match on 23 June than the previous week. An even larger spike in sales is expected before England play against Panama this Saturday. 

Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: 'When the sun shines in the UK, we absolutely make the most of it. 

'With soaring temperatures coinciding with the football, shoppers filled their baskets with items designed to bring people together.

'Brits’ sociable spirit remains strong, with more people choosing to host at home and finding smarter ways to entertain.'

This week Lidl customers have been spotted queueing in their droves outside certain shops in a bid to buy an air conditioning unit. 

Earlier this week dozens of people queued in a Lidl car park in Southampton for over an hour as they tried to buy £149 discount air conditioning units in the exceptionally hot weather. 

One Lidl employee said the units were 'gone in 0.5 seconds' with queues also reported at other Lidl branches across Britain and empty shelves where they had been placed.

Others reported that their local store had not received any deliveries, while some said people in front of them in the queue had bought six units in one go and it 'kicked off'. 

Another retailer, Toolstation, said sales of air conditioning units were up 220 per cent compared to the previous week, while sales of cooling fans had risen by 333 per cent in the last week.