As the temperatures in the UK soars an electronics expert today warned that the summer heat could cause batteries in mobile phones, iPods, or other portable devices to "explode, or ooze".

"The temperature in a locked car can fry microcircuits," warned Consumer Electronics expert Dave Graveline, who fields questions about gadgets on his US weekend radio show.

"One caller told me she burned her ear when she went to use a phone she left in the car."
He added that other callers report DVDs and music CDs melting.

"Excessive heat and direct sunlight can cook digital cameras, flash drives, almost anything electronic," he cautions. "Even GPS units intended to be dashboard mounted should be stashed in the glove compartment."