Quarter of a million people flee wildfires in Southern Europe

The French Interior Minister has warned of a “long and very difficult battle” against a fire raging in southwestern France. Spain has declared its first ever national emergency over a wildfire. And the Scottish government has asked for aerial support from the UK military to boost the response to a major fire in the Highlands.

Scottish police declared a major incident after a change in wind conditions accelerated the fire in the Cairngorms National Park, prompting the evacuation of local residents as a precaution.

Meanwhile on mainland Europe, the rapid spread of wildfires is causing devastation and upheaval.

Across Sicily, Firefighters are tackling numerous individual blazes. A major fire west of the Spanish capital Madrid has already forced 70,000 people to leave their homes.

In southwest France the government has now sent soldiers in to help battle a massive fire, which this morning forced the evacuations of some residents in the suburbs of Bordeaux.