Europe heatwave live: UK braces for record-breaking temperatures; Italy issues red alert for 16 cities

Temperatures expected to hit 40C in parts of the UK, as extreme heatwave spreads slowly eastwards, sparking warnings in Italy and the Netherlands

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• Tell us: how is the heatwave in the UK and across Europe affecting you?

Europe is braced for another day of an unprecedented heatwave that has smashed records in many countries.

Italy’s health ministry has declared a red heatwave alert in 16 cities for Wednesday, including Milan and Rome, and in the UK, temperatures are expected to reach 40C in some areas.