The peak temperature on Monday reached 42.7°C, equalling the highest ever recorded for July, the Meteorological Office has said.

The mercury reading is equal to the July record reached in 1988.

If you felt the temperature today was unbearable you had good reason - the Met Office said the temperature today "felt like" 44°C.

Tuesday may be the last chance for the July record to be broken with a forecast temperature of 42°C, as strong winds are expected to bring cooler temperatures from Wednesday.  

It was also just over one degree short of the highest ever, which was 43.8°C measured in August 1999.  

Earlier on Monday, the health authorities issued a warning to the public to take necessary precautions and protect themselves from the effects of heat as temperatures continue to soar.

The sizzling temperatures sparked six days of crisis in the national grid with various power cuts reported over the country. 

This week’s record-level temperatures are driven by heatwave Cerberus which has affected large parts of the Mediterranean region.

Greece, especially, experienced devastating wildfires, with 30,000 people evacuated from Rhodes over the weekend, with a further 2,400 escaping Corfu.