More than a thousand schools were closed in France on Tuesday and the top floor of the Eiffel Tower was shut to tourists as a severe heatwave continued to grip Europe, triggering health alerts across the region.

Paris extended a red alert for high temperatures on Tuesday, with the top of the Eiffel Tower shut, polluting traffic banned and speed restrictions in place as a searing heat wave grips Europe.

French authorities imposed precautions nationwide in anticipation of peak temperatures on Tuesday, with some areas bracing for highs of 41C in a heatwave that has gripped all of Europe.