Urgent holiday warning for popular Brit destination as temperatures to hit 45C and tourists warned not to sunbathe

It is predicted temperatures will continue to blast in the low to mid-40s over the weekend.

The heat will then drop away and then climb again next week with a "third thermal flare-up".

Civil protection officials are urging people be "particularly careful" and to take "self-protection measures" against the warmth.

They urge everyone in Greece to stay in "cool and shady places" while using air-con and fans.

Officials urge people to avoid sunbathing and walking outside - and if you must, make sure you wear a hat, sunglasses and light clothes.

People should eat light meals with fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty of water and juice.

Booze should also be avoided, along with high-fat foods.

"Special care is recommended for babies and young children, as well as the elderly and those with chronic diseases to protect them from high temperatures," said Greek officials.

Some tourist destinations - such as the Acropolis in Athens - are also expected to close during the hottest parts of the day.

The temperature is forecast to hit highs of 45C in the region of Thessaly on Sunday.

But then there will be respite as the temperature then is predicted to "drop significantly" Thursday.

The period of high temperatures has seen Greece also hit by dozens of wildfires - with planes and firefighters drafted in from other European nations to beat the blazes

Panagiotis Giannopoulos, a meteorologist with state broadcaster ERT, said: "Athens is going to have temperatures above 40C for six to seven days, through to the end of July,"

Weather experts have declared 2023 an El Niño year - a natural phenomenon that occurs cyclically and causes fluctuations in the global climate.

The UN’s World Meteorological Organization said it will raise temperatures around the world, and the effect is likely to continue for the rest of the year.

And despite the heat this summer, Europe's record temperature of 48.8C - recorded in 2021 in Sicily - has not been reached and is currently not forecast to be broken.

The current bout of heat belongs to a weather system originating in North Africa - an anticyclone dubbed "Charon".

Charon refers to a character from Ancient Greek mythology - and follows on the heels of another high-pressure weather system, Cerberus, responsible for last week's sweltering heat.