As Britain is braced for yet more floods, Europe burns.

A HEATWAVE sweeping central and south-eastern Europe has killed at least 25 people, with soaring temperatures sparking forest fires and damaging crops.

In Romania, where temperatures reached 104 degrees, the Health Ministry said at least 19 people had died due to heat.

In Austria, where highs had hovered around 95 degrees for days, the media has reported at least five people died from the heat.

In Croatia temperatures reached 104F and one death was reported.

Elsewhere, authorities in Slovakia and Hungary distributed free water in some cities. In the eastern Hungarian town of Kiskunhalas, temperatures reached a record 107.4, according to the national weather centre.

Greece's Fire Service reported 115 fires.

Heat also sparked forest fires in parts of Italy, Romania and Bulgaria, where a state of emergency was declared in the southern districts of Haskovo and Stara Zagora.

The extreme heat and lack of rain was also a concern for farmers.

In Romania, an industry group estimated the agriculture sector had suffered more than pounds ibn in damage due to severe drought.

CAPTION(S):

After waiting for three hours, queues of flood victims are issued with free bottled water by the army at Quedgeley near Gloucester Picture: BARRY BATCHELOR