European tourist hotspot bans alcohol in public as hospitals hit breaking point amid extreme hot weather

Drinking alcohol in the streets has been banned in Paris this weekend as a lethal heatwave sweeps Europe, pushing emergency services and hospitals to their limits.

The city also cancelled its Pride event and the Solidays music festival - both typically attracting hundreds of thousands to the French capital - due to health concerns.

Paris police chief Patrice Faure said: "As you know, drinking alcohol with the sun beating down can have a devastating effect. I must ensure that the pressure decreases."

He warned that medical facilities had reached breaking point due to surging numbers of severe heat-related admissions.

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"We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities," Mr Faure said.

The ban on street drinking began at midday today, unfortunately timed for football fans ahead of France's World Cup fixture against Norway.

Under the restrictions, purchasing beer, wine and spirits from shops and drinking outdoors, including along the city's canals and the Seine, is forbidden.

The ban operates between 12pm and 7am the following morning both today and tomorrow.

Shops and supermarkets also face a complete ban on selling takeaway alcohol from 6pm onwards on both evenings.

However, some establishments remain exempt, with customers still permitted to dine at restaurants, bars and cafes and order alcoholic drinks.

Temperatures in the French capital soared to 40.9C on Wednesday, marking a new June record, and have remained teetering on 40C since.

The UK is no different, with the hottest June day record broken today for the third day in a row, as temperatures rocketed to 36.9C.

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French health minister Stéphanie Rist revealed that ambulance crews in the city recorded cardiac arrests at four times the typical rate during a single 24-hour period this week, with even young people among those affected.

The city's emergency response teams are now said to be handling some 2,500 calls daily - double their normal workload - with many incidents linked to dehydration and heat-induced medical emergencies.

As a result, hospitals throughout Paris and across wider France are operating at capacity, with some patients receiving treatment in corridors.

While the exact number of heat-induced deaths from the heatwave remains unclear, Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire acknowledged this week that deaths in the capital have "undoubtedly increased".

Across France, at least 55 people have drowned since the extreme temperatures began, with three young children also discovered dead inside overheated vehicles.

More than 44 million French residents have been placed under the highest red alert for dangerous heat this week, near two-thirds of the nation's 67 million population.

Forecasters predict the oppressive conditions will continue for several days, with concern mounting around how medical services will continue to operate.

Nearby in Italy, cities including Rome, Milan and Naples have all been placed under orange weather warnings as temperatures approach 36C.

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