An unusually early and intense heatwave has broken temperature records across Western Europe, including the UK, leading to warnings about risks to life. Several drownings were reported as people sought relief from the extreme heat.

The UK smashed a century-old temperature record for the second time in 24 hours on Tuesday as a spring heatwave continued to scorch parts of western Europe, triggering government warnings about risks to life. Several drownings were reported in Britain and France as people tried to cool down. A temperature of 35.1 degrees was recorded at London’s Kew Gardens, Britain’s Met Office weather service said, breaking the 34.8 degree record set a day earlier at Kew. The provisional readings smashed the.....