Britain recorded its hottest day on record with temperatures hitting 40C for the first time, which forced train companies to cancel its services and schools to close early. Ministers to urge the public to stay at home.
Much of Europe is experiencing a heatwave. In some countries such as Portugal, Spain and France fires are raging across countryside.
In Spain, helicopters dropped water on the fire flames as heat above 40C made the job harder for firefighters.
France battled to contain direfighters forest wildfires. Britain recorded its highest temperature in history as a heatwave rising from the south settled over western Europe.
Southern and western Germany as well as Belgium are also bracing for potentially record-breaking temperatures.
Photo: REUTERS/John Sibley
