Hayfever soars due to warm weather

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Record temperatures in April, coupled with exceptionally low rainfall, have caused trees to produce as much pollen now as they usually do in June.

Sales of hay fever treatments are soaring, with Boots selling nearly twice as many remedies as this time last year.

The problem is made worse by pollution, which encourages pollen to be released and traps it in the air.

Professor Jean Emberlin, of the National Pollen Research Unit, said, "In these circumstances, plants tend to produce smaller pollen grains, but these have higher amounts of allergen per weight."

Boots estimates that up to half of customers asking for advice at its pharmacy counters are complaining of hay fever, with people living in urban areas the worst affected.

Sufferers have also made double the number of calls to the NHS Direct helpline compared with last year.

Boots advises Britain's 15million hay fever sufferers to shut their windows and avoid going outside during the peak pollen times of 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm.