A British expat has admitted moving to Andalucia is one of her ‘biggest regrets’ after being unable to cope with the heat.

Barbara Collins, 72, left London for the historic city of Granada three years ago in search of a warmer climate and year-round sunshine.

However, speaking to The i, the former accountant said she ended up feeling ‘trapped inside her own home’ due to the relentless heatwaves, while wildfire fears also took their toll.

‘I never imagined that my craving for a year-round sunshine spot could one day turn into the biggest regret of my life,’ she said.

Barbara, who rents a three-bedroom apartment in Granada’s Alhambra district, said she fell in love with the city’s history and relaxed atmosphere.

However, she said the combination of soaring temperatures and the growing threat of wildfires has transformed daily life.

She explained that fires burning across Granada province have made the danger feel ‘all too real’, while the intense daytime heat means she rarely ventures outside until the evening.

According to Barbara, the worsening conditions have left her struggling to sleep and increasingly considering leaving Spain altogether in favour of Portugal, where she hopes to settle in Lisbon.

Her comments come as southern Europe endures another brutal summer, with large wildfires scorching parts of Spain and France and prolonged heatwaves affecting much of the continent.

Around 1.2 million acres were burned across Spain and France during the opening months of this year’s fire season, according to figures cited by the Financial Times.

Even Britain has not escaped the extreme conditions, with repeated heatwaves and drought prompting wildfire warnings in parts of the UK as emergency services battle an increasing number of grass fires.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.