By Stephen Beech

More than 4,400 people died in the UK due to record-breaking hot weather over the three previous summers, according to new research.

Almost two-thirds of those deaths (2,783) occurred in the summer of 2022 when the UK sweltered amid a record heatwave, say scientists.

A total of 62,775 deaths across Europe - including 573 in the UK - were attributed to hot weather during the summer of 2024.

In all, more than 181,400 deaths across the continent - including 4,435 in the UK - were related to heat during the summers of 2022, 2023, and 2024, according to the study.

The estimated summer heat mortality rate was 323% higher among people over 75 than in all other age groups, say scientists.

The year 2024 broke several European-wide temperature records - including the hot

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