The highest temperatures on record have been measured in Belgium and the Netherlands, with the mercury hitting 38.9C and 39.1C respectively.

The UK is also currently bracing for potentially the hottest day on record, with temperatures expected to reach 39C on Thursday, and commuters being warned to stay home.

Belgium’s record was broken in the town of Kleine Brogel in Limburg province in the north east of the country. The previous record had been set in 1947 when a reading of 38.8C was recorded in Uccle on the outskirts of Brussels on 27 June.

However, measurement conditions and technology differ today, and this temperature has been “corrected” down to 36.6 degrees.

The hottest day in Belgium’s recent history was 36.2C measured on 19 July 2006.

UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Show all 44 1 /44 UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Bournemouth Hundreds of people at the beach in Bournemouth, as the UK could encounter the hottest July day on record PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Manchester Hamza and Haris splash in the water feature beside the National Football Museum PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Derbyshire People play in the water at Hathersage Outdoor Swimming Pool PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Whitley Bay Sunrise at St Mary's Lighthouse PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate Families fish for crabs from a sea wall Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Surrey People leap from a bridge at Taggs Island, near Hampton Court PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London Ireland's players in a drinks break during the second day of the test match against England at Lord's AP UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London People sunbathe in Hyde Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Manchester People splash in the fountains in Piccadilly Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate Families make their way to the beach Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Cambridge People use umbrellas to shield from the sun as they punt along on the River Cam PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Brighton People enjoy the hot weather on the beach PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London England's Jack Leach cools down with a towel in a drinks break AP UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate MARGATE, - JULY 25: Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine on July 25, 2019 in Margate, United Kingdom. The Met Office issued a weather warning from 3pm this afternoon. They warn that Britain could face up to 13 hours of electrical storms after temperatures could reach a record-breaking 39C. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Dan Kitwood Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Kadie Lane, 10, cools off in the fountain at Alnwick Gardens. The UK is bracing itself for what could be its hottest ever day after lightning storms triggered fires and rail disruption PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Hampshire Lightening striking as a thunder storm passes over Basingstoke lanttans/PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Visitors sit in deckchairs in the sun at Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Sisters, Nyam May (left) and Ciara May (right), jump into the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar An African white lion sunbathes at West Midlands Safari Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Liverpool Lightening strikes as a thunder storm passes over houses in Lee Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Children sit in the sun by 'The Friendly Giant', a pond sculpture situated in Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Reuben Humphreys, 4 , cools off in the fountain at Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Lightning strikes as a thunder storm passes over houses in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 24, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Danny Lawson PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Holidaymakers shelter under umbrellas on the South Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Lincolnshire A thunder storm passes over Holbeach St Marks wiker_1971/PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Swimmers have fun in the sea on a giant inflatable Flamingo, South Beach Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Folkestone Sunbathers relax PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Yasmin Amindari plays with ball at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido in West Yorkshire as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 23, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Danny Lawson PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Kent Broadstairs beach PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire South Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Dog owners warned about heatstroke American Bulldog Finlay, receiving urgent cooling treatment at PDSA's Pet Hospital, after was left fighting for his life after his body temperature soared to a life-threatening 42.2C (108F) during recent hot weather PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Folkestone A couple, seen through heat haze PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Ilkley Freddie Ward jumps into the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido in West Yorkshire as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire North Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A swimmer and paddlers are seen in the sea off South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Canterbury People enjoy punting through Westgate Gardens as temperatures rise across the UK this week PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A sunbather lies on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Ilkley People play in the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Canterbury Isla Stanton enjoys the sunshine in Westgate Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Holidaymakers are seen in the sea on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Oxford A lady takes a photograph in Oxford, as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 23, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire Steve Parsons PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A "Keep Calm" towel is pictured on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Warwickshire People enjoy a trip in a boat along the river in Stratford Upon Avon PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Stratford Upon Avon People enjoy the sun along the river in Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, as temperatures are expected to rise across the UK this week. Jacob King PA

The extreme heat caused a Eurostar train to break down on Wednesday, trapping passengers.

In the Netherlands the Dutch meteorological service, KNMI, said a record breaking high of 39.1C was taken at Gilze-Rijen airbase near the southern city of Tilburg on Wednesday afternoon.

This exceeded the previous high of 38.6C recorded in August 1944.

Even higher temperatures are expected to hit north western Europe on Thursday, with France expecting to see its record high of 40.4C, also set in 1947, broken too.

The heat is putting pressure on authorities to help protect the elderly and the sick in many countries where air conditioning is not common.

The high temperatures are also worsening droughts, as in many regions lack of rainfall has characterised the summer in many parts of Europe.

The combination of wind and heat, with the likelihood of lightning strikes during thunderstorms increases the risk of wildfires such as those blazing in Portugal, the World Meteorological Organisation has warned.

Temperatures in France are around 15C higher than normal for the time of year, with scientists stating global temperature rises as a result of burning fossil fuels since the industrial revolution have made dangerous heatwaves five times more likely.

Professor Hannah Cloke, a natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading said: “Britain's heatwave will mercifully be relatively short-lived, with some respite over the weekend.

“But these uncomfortably hot few days and nights should serve as a reminder of what we, as a country, need to do to prepare ourselves for more heatwaves in the future. First of all, we must take the entirely achievable steps to stop making this problem worse. Unless we follow up on our commitments to tackle climate change, lethal heatwaves could become the norm in Britain by the middle of the century.”