Europe swelters as heatwave grips south and southwest

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Western and southwestern Europe are in the throes of a heatwave, with many local governments advising caution and recommending children and the elderly remain indoors as much as possible.

On one of the busiest weekends of the year on the French roads, some holidaymakers have been subjected to long traffic jams in sweltering temperatures – at times soaring to 40 degrees Celsius.

Parts of Italy are forecast to reach 38, while Freiburg in Germany hit 40 degrees at 8.30am on July 4 and roads near Heidelberg have started to buckle and expand in the heat.