Chinese students have been forced to sleep in a university gym to escape a searing 38C heatwave.

The sports hall at the Central China Normal University in Wuhan is one of the only air-conditioned buildings on campus and has been converted into a temporary dorm.

Hundreds of students have been sleeping on woven rush mats on the floor since the heatwave began on Thursday. Some have brought home comforts with them, including duvets, blankets and soft toys.

For entertainment in the evenings the students have been playing cards together or using their mobile phones. Boys and girls have been separated by a barrier down the middle of the hall.

Wuhan, in Hubei Province in central China, is known as one of the country’s ‘four stoves’ because of its hot, humid summers.

Although temperatures average around 27C to 30C in July, its hottest month, the city heats up to over 35C (95F) on at least 20 days a year.