Meteorologists have warned of a “heat apocalypse” in western France as more than 8,500 further people fled their homes to escape a large wildfire sparked by a searing southern European heatwave that has already caused hundreds of deaths.

Nearly 25,000 people have been forced to abandon homes, holiday rentals and campsites for emergency shelters in the Gironde department west of Bordeaux, while blazes in Spain, Portugal and Greece have forced thousands more to flee.

Temperatures across southern Europe showed some sign of abating on Monday as the heatwave, during which temperatures have surpassed 40C (104F) across much of the region, moved north, including towards Britain, which was set for its hottest day on record.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.