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Two young boys have been found dead inside a locked car after being left there 'to sleep' in the heat with their father and stepmother after on suspicion of negligence

Two boys have tragically died after they were allegedly left inside a car "to sleep" on a holiday island.

The boys, aged eight and ten, were found dead inside the vehicle, which had been parked in a field near a residential area in Cyprus.

The tragic incident happened in the British base of Dhekelia, with police from the British bases attending the scene, the Cyprus Mail reports.

The local media outlet adds that the boys were reportedly left in the car to sleep. The children, of Bulgarian origin, suffered extreme muscle stiffness and burns from sun exposure, according to medical professionals.

The police have arrested the children's father and stepmother on suspicion of alleged negligence in connection with the death.

A British bases spokesperson said that officers were currently at a house in Xylophagou in the Famagusta district carrying out investigations into the cause of the deaths.

The exact cause of death has not been confirmed, but according to local media, the bodies of the children showed signs consistent with asphyxiation.

Forensic examinations to determine the exact cause will now be carried out.

The tragedy comes as temperatures have soared across parts of Europe, with record-breaking temperatures recorded..

Across the continent, four similar incidents have happened over the last week in periods of the heatwave.

An 18-month old baby died in France after being left in a car by his parents. He died at La Timone Hospital in Marseille on Tuesday after firefighters found him in the vehicle in the parking lot of a university medical campus.

He was found unconscious and suffering with hyperthermia because of the scorching heat inside the car.

Another incident in France saw to children die after being left in a locked car by their mum.

The 33-year-old mother now faces manslaughter charges after her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were found dead in the back seat of the parked car.

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