Europe summer hottest for 500 years

Europe this year experienced its hottest summer for at least 500 years, providing further evidence of man-made global warming, say researchers at the University of Bern's geography department.

The average temperature in Europe was 19.5C, two degrees higher than the average summer temperatures between 1901 and 1995.

Researchers pieced together a picture of Europe's weather before the 19th century using physics, chemistry and the writings of monks.