In Pictures: Hotting up across Europe

The temperatures are soaring across Europe.

For many parts of the continent July is the hottest month of the year, and as the temperatures rise people are trying to find ways to cool down.

Beaches and riverbanks are becoming very popular, as are parks and fountains.

However, being a European summer, sunshine is not guaranteed.

There have been quite a few lively showers around, with Spain seeing some particularly dangerous ones over the last 24 hours.

Thunderstorms brought a thick coating of hail to the northern town of Almazan.

These thunderstorms will slowly track northwards to bring torrential downpours into western France on Friday.