Firefighters battle major wildfire in France

Firefighters tackling a blaze near Saint-Magne, south of Bordeaux, southwestern France (SDIS 33/AP)

More than 1,000 firefighters are struggling to contain a massive wildfire which has burned a large area of pine forest in south-west France – in a region already ravaged by flames last month.

Local authorities said more than 26 square miles have burned since Tuesday in the Gironde region and neighbouring Landes as France, like other European countries, swelters through a hot and dry summer.