Across Europe, hundreds are lining up to try and get an aircon unit as the continent has been swarmed in a scorching heatwave, with temperatures in France hitting a feverish 45C yesterday. In Britain, children have this week been allowed to stay at home and parts of the transport system broke down completely as temperatures topped 36C.Meanwhile a red weather warning for extreme heat was extended into Friday across London and the south east, as a heat dome stubbornly sits across much of the region.Those in England - trapped in stuffy homes and flats - have been forced to escape to hotel rooms and lidos for a reprieve from stuffy dwellings, as the likes of John Lewis, Lidl and Argos are low in stock or completely sold out of cooling appliances.However, should you be willing to hunt around online, splurge thousands - or even take a train abroad - you can get an aircon unit as soon as tomorrow, with temperatures set to remain in the 20s across the UK next week as well.The first, and most cost-effective solution, would simply be to hunt and sleuth around the internet a little longer.It's easy to give into defeat, with countless outlets saying they're out of aircon stock, but many industrial electrics websites still have availability. Appliance retailer Aircon direct has a selection of portable and wall mounted models, which can be delivered from Saturday, June 27 - promising earliest arrival to be Monday, June 29. Across Europe, hundreds are lining up to try and get an aircon unit as the continent has been swarmed in a scorching heatwave, with temperatures in France hitting a feverish 45C yesterday. Stock image usedHowever, one unit, from Samsung, would - with delivery fee included - set you back £514.94. Another site, CoolEasy, has items available for delivery as early as Tuesday, June 30 - with a Hitachi AirHome system available for £575.99.Some people online have even suggested contacting companies which provide air conditioning for hire.One such business, Chilly Pepper Hire, promises to cater for all events on its site - not just corporate ones, writing: 'Whether you are a family suffering in a heat wave, an office or a store with a faulty air-conditioning system, Chilly Pepper Hire has the solution.'As a family-run firm in London and the South East, we provide a personalised service to every customer; whether it’s for a scheduled hire or an emergency, you can trust our skilled team to be there – even on the same day if necessary. We also offer a technical support helpline for further peace of mind.' While costs can vary, you can rent a small unit for a week, for around £54 - while a large one is approximately £190.According to the website, Chilly Pepper Hire can deliver 'usually within 24 hours on weekdays'.Elsewhere, 'morning orders are typically delivered the same afternoon; afternoon orders are delivered the next morning'.Another hidden online gem could be looking for used units on eBay. People queue to get their hands on an air conditioning unit at a Lidl in Southampton yesterdayThe reselling site features a number of portable units, prices from £30 - £300, with many offering free collection in person, should you be willing to travel. Other sellers are also offering next day delivery.And finally - should you be determined to get the best price possible, free from queues and on your own time, you can brave taking a train - or even driving - to a different European city, which may have greater availability. It's a risky game - especially with plane journeys largely out the window as you wouldn't be able to transport the aircon unit due to the refrigerant chemicals many airlines ban - but could offer, for some, one of the quicker options. For instance, while the heatwave has been plaguing most of Europe, social media users on Reddit have said that small appliance stores in Brussels still have aircon units available.Should you want to take the Eurostar to the city on Saturday morning, if you take the 07:04am from St Pancras, you could arrive by 10:05am.After securing the appliance, you could be back home as early as 2pm if you wanted to - but the roundtrip would set you back a hefty £470.Another option is exploring Rotterdam for aircon units - with a round-trip to the Dutch city costing a similar amount.Perhaps one of the more handy tips from sweltering social media users, however, has been to simply make sure you're prepared for the next inevitable heatwave. 'You buy them in the winter when nobody else is and you save a fortune,' one wrote on Reddit, while another added that they have 'pre-ordered an AC for the first time'. 'Every year, people have been avoiding buying quality of life for something that only last a "few days" of the year,' one concluded.'One of my friends mention why do you need aircon in UK, for something that last a few days.'Lately more and more people are finding it uncomfortable every year, and just buy when they absolutely give in. The only time is during the heatwave....'Sellers and warehouse can only hold so much of these items, they have been sitting on these stocks for months. Manufacturer will not make more if there isn't a demand, everyone had a chance to buy them anytime of the year.'