text: This picture shows the dramatic moment a 'hero' police officer smashed a car window to save a  baby trapped in the vehicle on one of the hottest days of the year. The boy's mother frantically tried to open the door when the keys to her Range Rover were locked inside and the eight-month-old boy was stuck in the car alone as temperatures hit almost 23C yesterday. She grew increasingly distressed as the car became hotter - with no fresh air inside the vehicle - and called police for help. The incident occurred when temperatures peaked at 22.8C at St James's Park in London - making it the second hottest day of the year so far beaten only by today when temperatures soared in the capital to nearly 24C. Scroll down for video . Saved: This photo was taken moments after a police officer rescued a baby from a Range Rover after his mother (pictured left with her baby) had tried frantically to open the door when her keys were locked inside . 'Hero': Kingston Police published a photo of the incident on their Twitter account, along with a caption hailing PC Resteghini as a 'hero' Officers were called to the parked car in Surbiton, south-west London, at lunchtime yesterday and the baby was rescued after officer PC Resteghini smashed the car's window with his baton. Kingston  Police tweeted the picture along with the caption: 'PC Resteghini has just rescued an infant trapped inside a hot vehicle, smashing a window to gain access #hero'. Police confirmed the baby was unhurt. The baby's father told MailOnline there had been a fault with the Range Rover's automatic locking system and that the matter was being investigated. His wife had left the keys in her bag inside the vehicle, which the man, who did not wish to be named, said was designed not to lock if the keys are inside. He said: 'My wife had put our son into the car seat in the back and closed the door. When she did that it locked automatically and wouldn't open when she walked round to the driver's side. 'She was extremely panicked so called the police. They were fantastic and turned up in about five minutes. They tried for a while to get into the car, in the same way my wife had, but eventually had to smash the window.' Speaking to Radio Jackie News, PC Resteghini said: 'We used one of the batons to gain entry to the car...the baby was safe and well and the mother was OK.' Scorchio: Sunbathers packed out beaches up and down the country today, including Bournemouth (pictured), as the mercury rose to 23C . Busy: Brighton beach was packed with couples and families who were desperate to make the most of the sun on the hottest day of the year . Hot: Beaches, including Brighton beach (pictured) and parks were packed today with sunseekers making the most of the unseasonably high temperatures. The mid-20s temperatures made Britain hotter than Athens, Rome and Madrid but forecasters warned a cold front will move in . Relax: Temperatures reached 23C in the capital and south east yesterday, making it the hottest day of the year, before the record was beaten by today's temperatures of 23.6C and rising. Pictured: One sunbather enjoys the sunshine but keeps her head cool as the mercury spars . Taking it easy: People in Britain have been enjoying the hot weather so far this week including at Tower Bridge in London today (pictured) The south-east of England has enjoyed unseasonably warm temperatures over the last few days, with a high of 22.8C at St James's Park in London yesterday. Temperatures also peaked at 22.6C in Shoeburyness, Essex, and 22.4C at Manston, Kent. It meant yesterday was the hottest day of the year until temperatures surpassed those recorded . Forecasters said today was not only the hottest of the year but also expected it to be the warmest day for the rest of the month, as temperatures are predicted to return to average or just above average later this week. A cold front moving down from the north of the country will bring cooler weather, which will see temperatures drop to between 15C and 17C. However, despite the drop in temperatures, it will still be warmer than usual for April and forecasters said sunny spells will be felt across much of the country until at least next week. Six-year-old Isabella-Love Mee enjoys the water fountains at Granary Square in London as Britain basks in the warmest day of the year so far . Two youngsters made the most of the warm weather this morning in Paignton, Devon, as the mercury gradually increased from a sunny start . Workers made the most of their lunch breaks by relaxing in the sunshine near Tower Bridge as temperatures exceeded 23C in the capital . Warning: A police inspector last week tweeted a picture showing what officers would do if dogs were left in hot cars during the warm weather .
target: The eight-month-old baby's mother frantically tried to open the door after the Range Rover's keys were locked inside .
  Youngster grew distressed as temperatures hit 23C in London and the heat inside the vehicle became unbearable .
  Police were called and an officer smashed the window with his baton to free the baby who was deemed uninjured .