The UK has hit 40.2C – its highest recorded temperature ever and the first time it’s cracked the big 4-0. That happened at Heathrow Airport west of London at 12.50pm local time. Ten separate fires across the city are also occupying emergency services personnel, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan calling the situation “critical”. Scientists – who have put the conditions down to climate change – are shocked. Meanwhile, Belgium, France and the Netherlands have sizzled with records tumbling as the heat soared. In Spain and Italy, more than 1,000 deaths have been attributed to the heat in recent days, and Italy’s been put on notice for 40C-plus days later this week. And fires continue to burn across Western Europe – tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers have been forced to evacuate in France, Portugal, Spain and Greece. The situation remains dangerous across the region as the heatwave and bone dry conditions persist.