This incredible footage shows the UK’s only pod of bottlenose dolphins jumping for joy off the Cornish coast.

The group of mammals leap in and out of the sea and follow a tourist boat for more than a mile as Britain basks in a heatwave.

One of the dolphins jumped 6ft out of the water off just Cornish coastCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

The footage was captured by Marine Discovery Penzance, who were taking people on a wildlife tour near Land’s End, Cornwall, on Sunday afternoon.

When they were just off the coast they spotted the pod, and the dolphins soon started playing with the boat and leaping in the air.

Hannah Jones, 43, owner of Marine Discovery Penzance, said: “We were heading that way and we saw them coming towards us.

“It was obvious that the dolphins were tracking around Land’s End which they often do, we just waited and they came around the boat.

The playful mammals followed the tourist boat for one mileCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

The tourists were delighted to see the mammals – Britain’s’ only pod of bottlenose dolphins

“We had to turn back because we were running out of time and they came with us.

“They were bow riding the vessel, there were a couple of leaps. They were pretty spectacular leaps.

The dolphins continued to play in the sea near Land’s End

“We slowly motored back, they got about a mile further on and turned back.

“They are England’s only resident pod of bottlenose dolphins, they have recently been designated as such by Natural England following research.”

The footage emerged as forecasters predicted five heatwaves in Britain, while the Met Office has issued a health warning after the hottest day of the year was recorded in London.