Paris: Europeans are cooling off in public fountains as a new heatwave breaks records and spreads across the continent.

Belgium and Germany registered their highest-ever temperatures this week, while the Netherlands had its hottest day in 75 years.

And the mercury is expected to rise even further.

Paris is forecast to hit 42 degrees and other parts of France could have temperatures exceeding 40 degrees on Thursday along with Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland.