France bakes in record heatwave as Europe faces deadly extreme weather

France experienced its hottest day on record, with an average temperature of 29.8C and a peak of 44.3C in Pissos, as a severe heatwave swept across western Europe.

At least 40 people have died from drowning in France, and 68,000 households in Finistere, Brittany, lost electricity due to a transformer incident.

The extreme weather since May has resulted in at least 174 deaths across Europe, with Britain also anticipating record-breaking temperatures.

National landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum were forced to close early, and two children died in Carpentras after being found in a car during the heatwave.

Experts have issued warnings about a growing threat of flesh-eating bacteria, Vibrio, on European beaches as a result of climate change.