Holidaymakers in Spain and Portugal have been warned to stay out of the sun as the region approaches the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe.

Eight Portuguese regions have already smashed their local records as a warm blast of air from North Africa sweeps the continent.

At least three people in Spain have reportedly died from heatstroke as temperatures crept towards 47C, and experts warn that even higher peaks could be on the way.

Hundreds of firefighters and aircraft battled a massive blaze in Portugal's Algarve, with local fire departments across the region on high alert after the events that devastated parts of Greece and Sweden in recent weeks.

Regional weather services have put a health warning in place until Sunday, with the heatwave expected to be especially severe in the south west.

In the UK, the Met Office has warned the public to stay out of the sun as the South East approaches relatively mild temperatures of 32C, and said anyone travelling in southern Europe should exercise particular caution.

“It’s going to get very hot in parts of Spain and Portugal today, and Spanish and Portuguese Met services do have some warnings out,” said Becky Mitchell, a meteorologist at the Met Office.

“We are looking at temperatures rising into the mid-40s in some parts of Spain.

“As always the advice is very similar to what it would be at home in such extreme temperatures. Spend as much time out of the sun as possible and take UV protection.”

Experts said more local records would likely be broken as temperatures peak on Saturday.

“Temperature record in Portugal is 47.4 and for Spain its 47.3 – we are looking at highs of around 47 so those records are under threat,” said Ms Mitchell.

The all-time European record of 48C was set in Athens, Greece, in July 1977, and meteorologists think there is a chance this could be beaten this weekend.

Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Show all 15 1 /15 Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Crop marks show of the old garden at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire Lancashire Council / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Garden at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire which was taken out in the 1940's but can now be seen again through the parched grass Lancashire Council / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Remnants of WWII Air raid shelters on Jesus Green in Cambridge show up in the parched grass SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Old crop marks in Norfolk show up Mike Page / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Info showing how crop marks are made SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Old parts of RAF Lasham's airfield show up in the parched grass in Hampshire Jordan Bridge / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Crop marks near Langstone, Newport RCAHMW / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Crop marks show in Tregaron, Wales RCAHMW/SWNS Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Remnants of Caistor Roman town in Norfolk Mike Page / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Penllwyn Roman fort in Ceregigion, Wales RCAHMW / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Crop marks show in Tregaron, Wales RCAHMW / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Old parts of RAF Lasham's airfield Jordan Bridge / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Roman site near Magor, South Wales RCAHMW / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Old crop marks in Norfolk Mike Page / SWNS.com Historic sites across UK exposed by heatwave Cross Oak hill fort in Talybont, Wales RCAHMW / SWNS.com

After much of the northern hemisphere was struck by a heatwave that brought with it fire and a spike in heat-related deaths, scientists have raised alarm about the link with climate change.

Though heatwaves have always occurred in Europe, climate experts say they will become more intense and more frequent in the future as average global temperatures rise.

Preliminary results by the World Weather Attribution network suggested the heatwave that struck northern Europe in July, causing “unprecedented” temperatures above the Arctic Circle, was made more than twice as likely by climate change.