Tens of millions are braving a weekend of extreme temperatures in Europe as a deadly heatwave moves eastwards, with some countries announcing rising death tolls and health services warning of saturation.

The searing heat has scorched temperature records across Europe this week, with the continent experiencing one of the most intense and dangerous heatwaves in recent memory

At least 101 million Europeans were forecast to swelter in temperatures over 35 degrees on Thursday, with hundreds of people believed to have been killed by the heatwave.

In France, dozens of people including both young and old have died during the heatwave