Europeans swelter through a blistering heatwave

Europe is being scorched by a lingering heatwave, sparking droughts in Spain and fires in Portugal

In France, authorities have cancelled traditional fireworks displays in many areas as the fire risk remains too high.

The fireworks were due to commemorate the country’s national day of celebration, Bastille Day.

The high temperatures in Spain will peak on Thursday.

Even the country’s northern regions are being impacted, areas which usually dodge these extreme weather conditions.

It comes as tourists flock to Europe for their annual summer holidays.

In Portugal, authorities say an unprecedented 80 per cent of the nation is currently at an ‘exceptional’ risk of fires.

The government has put the whole of the mainland under a state of contingency until Friday.

On Monday, July 11 there were 2000 firefighters deployed across at least 30 blazes.

Several of the major fires have now been extinguished, but thousands of hectares of forest have been lost.

Around the world, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer as global warming worsens.