40C forecast as second heatwave grips France

The weekend's respite from last week's heatwave was shortlived, with France set to bake in more high temperatures this week as forecasters predict the mercury will rise to 40C in the south from Wednesday.

National forecaster Meteo-France on Monday morning placed four departments are on orange alert for heatwaves on Monday - the Ardèche, Drôme, Rhône and the Pyrénées-Orientales.

Temperatures across most of the country are expected to pass 30C on Monday afternoon, with Grenoble set to swelter under 35C, and Montélimar expected to hit 36C.

From Wednesday, following a few thunderstorms on Tuesday, the whole country will be in the grip of an anticyclone - a weather system with high barometric pressure at its centre - which will see temperatures rise again.

Forecasters predict temperatures as high as 40C in the Mediterranean hinterlands from Wednesday, while Paris will see thermometers nudging up to 30C.

By the end of the week, the whole country will be affected - with temperatures as high as 35C even in the north.