The United Kingdom saw its hottest June day on record on Wednesday as temperatures continued to soar across Europe.
The Met Office, the UK's national weather and climate service, said provisional figures showed the town of Gosport in Hampshire hit 36.1 °C, just edging above Wisley in Surrey at 36 °C.
Wiggonholt in West Sussex had earlier been thought to have claimed the record, clocking in at 35.8 °C.
High temperatures are expected to continue through the middle of the week, with large parts of southern England and southeastern Wales under a red heat alert on Thursday. Amber heat alerts are in place across much of the rest of Wales and parts of northern, eastern and southwestern England.
People should drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and avoid exercise between 11 am and 3 pm, the Met Office has advised.
"If you are going out take water with you, stay in the shade, wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat," it added.
Temperatures are set to drop considerably across the UK heading into next week, although they'll remain above average in parts of the country.
Across the Channel, France is also sweltering under searing heat. Palluau in western France hit 43.8°C on Wednesday, while Pissos in the southwest reached 44.3°C on Tuesday, per Météo-France.
In Paris, the Eiffel tower and the Louvre museum have said they will close early this week amid the heatwave.
Parts of Spain are also seeing temperatures top 40°C.
