AS the thermometer nudged towards 32 deg C (90 F) today, Gary Wilby was trying on his new thermal underwear.

Gary, who is 6ft 4in tall and weighs in at nearly 20 stones, has had to have thermal vests and leggings specially made so he can withstand the sub-zero temperatures of Siberia.

He said: "I know it's hard to imagine at the moment in England, but in a few months' time, temperatures in Siberia could be as low as minus 45 degrees centigrade."

Father-of-two Gary, 41, of Eggborough, near Selby, is a chief engineer with an oil company and jets off today to an oilfield in Siberia, 80 kilometres inside the Arctic Circle.

Ironically, he has just returned from an offshore oil rig in Angola where he worked all day in temperatures of around 120 degrees.

He said: "I prefer the cold to the heat, which is just as well. In Angola, my office had air-conditioning and now I'm changing into thermal vests, leggings, socks and gloves."

With a 60-inch chest, Gary contacted thermal clothing specialist, Damart, on its website and it agreed to make him some extra-large garments.

Gary said: "I'm a big lad with plenty of in-built insulation, but the climate in Siberia is something else.

"I could be in Siberia for six months or six years, working five weeks on and five weeks off, so I will be able to fly home to see my family.

"It's not everybody's cup of tea, but I love the challenge and it's given us a great lifestyle.

"What I earn in six months now took me three years to earn in my former job as a car mechanic.

"We enjoy good holidays abroad and I've been able to buy ten acres of land at Hillam."

Meanwhile, three sunbathers were spotted by our photographer topping up their tans in an unusual location - lying on a wall high above the riverside footpath in Fulford, while cyclists passed by far below.

The hot sunshine is expected to come to an end with a bang when thunderstorms come up from the south tonight and tomorrow, followed by fresher and cooler weather with showers.

Updated: 10:44 Wednesday, July 16, 2003