Britons have been ordered to remove air conditioning from their homes - despite the country baking in up to 40C heat this week - under a fresh Net Zero crackdown.
Planning officials at councils have told residents to take down their cooling units over concerns about carbon dioxide emissions.
They say AC, despite the heat, should serve only as a "last resort".
The crackdown comes from building regulations which demand "active cooling" is used only after all "passive cooling" methods, like opening windows or running fans, have been exhausted.
The Tories have accused the Government of leaving Britain "in the dark ages" through Net Zero policies which prevent citizens from accessing "modern conveniences that are completely normal in other countries".
Standard guidance says planning consent is not needed for air conditioning in most circumstances.
But permission becomes mandatory in specific scenarios, including properties in conservation areas - with separate regulations applying to flats, leasehold properties, and shared buildings.
This creates situations where units are fitted believing they comply with rules, only for council enforcement teams to turn up and demand their removal.
