Switzerland recorded its hottest June temperature ever on Thursday when thermometers in the northern city of Basel reached 38C, surpassing a national June record that had stood since 1947, as an intense heatwave continued to grip large parts of Western Europe.

The government has issued a warning and raised the danger level from 3 to 4, meaning “high danger”. No relief from the heat is expected until Monday.

France records 43.3°C in its hottest June day ever, Britain issues red heat warnings and hundreds of schools close, while Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland also face extreme…