Scalding sunshine brings Europe to its beaches — and its knees

EUROPE shimmered in a blistering heatwave yesterday, delighting holidaymakers but causing concern for farmers and power companies.

In Italy, where rivers have shrunk and crops withered over the past two months, churches in the worst-hit regions have held mass vigils. One priest plans to keep his two churches open day and night for three days of non-stop prayers.

"If Our Lord doesn't give us a hand then things are going to get really bad here," Don Angelo told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.