As Germany swelters in temperatures near 40degC, at least 12 people have drowned in swimming accidents across the country.

A number of children were among the dead, including a four-year-old who drowned in a quarry pond in Bavaria, and a six-year-old carried away by the current after swimming in the Rhine in Cologne.

The weekend was the hottest of the year, but still short of the 40.2degC record last reached in 2003.

The Rhineland town of Bad Duerkheim registered the country’s highest temperature of the heatwave with 39.2degC, the German Meteorological Office reported.

Caravans heading to the coast caused traffic delays on the roads, as did heat damage to the motorways and railtracks.

Police received several calls about parents and dog-owners leaving their children and pets in parked cars to go shopping, and offenders were called back to their vehicles by megaphone.

A cold front is expected to lower temperatures in Germany on Monday (local time) before the mercury climbs back above 30degC on Tuesday.

The Met Office has warned of heavy storms in the west of the country and even isolated tornadoes.

DPA