DEADLY wildfires are sweeping through Spain and France with hotels and popular beach bars being evacuated.

Southern Spain was set alight after a terrifying forest fire erupted near a beach resort in a blaze described by an official as the fastest-spreading fire he has ever seen.

Hundreds of people are said to have rushed for cover in a shelter in Algeciras as the fires started to approach residential areas.

Locals and tourists were evacuated from hotels and homes as the flames were fanned towards a beach bar in Tarifa and nearby campsites.

The fires were also fast approaching the N-340 highway and the Estrecho Natural Park.

A team of up to 17 aircraft were deployed to battle the blazes since Sunday.

Firefighters were still working to extinguish the fires on Wednesday.

Over in southern France, the wildfires proves fatal as one person died in the village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse.

Firefighters battled to control the massive flames that had already swept through an area bigger than Paris.

At least 25 houses have burned down with dozens of roads in the area being closed down.