By Emma Pinedo PARIS/MADRID (Reuters) -Several Italian regions banned outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day, France shut scores of schools and Spain confirmed last month as its hottest June on record as a severe heatwave gripped Europe,

Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June since records started over a century ago, Spain's national weather service said on Tuesday as Europe remained in the grip of the first major heat wave this summer.

France and the rest of Europe are still in the grips of the first major heat wave this summer even as conditions began to improve in some parts of the region