The heatwave is showing no signs of stopping as the Met Office predicts temperatures in the 30s this weekend.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the mercury was likely to reach the high 20s and low 30s again, adding that despite the more comfortable temperatures in recent days "it is not the end of the hot weather for the summer".

Temperatures are likely to hit at least 32C and possibly 33C in parts of the south east on Friday.

The heat is likely to continue into next week.

Holidaymakers heading to Spain and Portugal were warned of an extreme heatwave which could see the hottest temperatures ever recorded in continental Europe.

Luke Miall, a Met Office meteorologist, said the current record of 48C (118F) in Athens, Greece, in 1977 could be broken as a wave of blisteringly hot air sweeps in from Africa.

Temperatures crept into the low 40s on Wednesday and are predicted to rise and peak at the weekend, with the highs expected inland rather than in coastal areas.

He added: "These sorts of temperatures are not only exceptional for the locals but people from the UK will never really have experienced them.

"Especially with it being the school holidays, and the very young and old being susceptible to heatstroke, we're advising tourists to keep out of the midday sun and protect themselves.

"Combined with high pressure in charge, blue skies every day, and the ground already warmed up, that leads to a day-on-day build, combining to give us these intense temperatures."

Temperatures in south-west France could also rise to the high 30s, he added.