Businesses get a boost in heatwave

AS FRANCE basks in the summer heatwave it has meant the best kind of problem for some businesses – with firms running short of fans and air-conditioning equipment.

Sales of fans and A/C units have risen up to 400% in the past two weeks and Paris shops are already reporting they are sold out. It is the same story for shops selling barbecues, ice cream, sun cream and even mosquito repellent – they are all seeing sales soar.

While a doubling in the number of people using swimming pools is no surprise, cinemas, too, are seeing increased business in their air-conditioned theatres, especially at the start of the afternoon.

However, the heatwave has also brought an increase in air pollution in the Lyon area, the Rhône valley and in Ile-de-France with intense ultraviolet light from the sun producing ozone from vehicle emissions.

While Météo France has listed measures to take to avoid dehydrating in the heat [see our article from yesterday - Heatwave and pollution alert ] pet-owners should also remember to look after their animals, particularly dogs which can suffer easily from heat-stroke.

Temperatures across a large part of France are expected to fall today as a band of thunderstorms crosses the country.

Storms were hitting Aquitaine, Brittany and Basse-Normandie this morning with the band moving east and stretching from the Pyrénées, Massif-Central, and Limousin, up to Normandy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Storms also hit Calvados yesterday: To see video, click below.