Firefighters in Spain, Portugal and Greece battled ongoing wildfires on Friday, an important religious holiday in all three countries, as persistent hot, dry conditions challenged efforts to contain the blazes.

By Michael Francis Gore, Charlie Devereux and Ana CanteroVILLANUEVA DE LA SIERRA, Spain (Reuters) -Spain battled 14 major fires driven by high winds and aggravated by heat on Friday as authorities warned of "unfavourable conditions" to tackle flames that have already killed seven people and burned an area the size of London.

Firefighters in Spain have been battling wildfires in the north-western province of Leon. Three people have died in Spain due to the blazes this summer. The country is among several European countries experiencing scorching temperatures this week that fuel wildfires and which scientists say human-induced climate change is intensifying.