Our soggiest summer ever ... until next year, that is

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Despite the belated sunshine and blue skies across parts of the UK over the last few days, provisional figures from the Met Office show that more rain fell in June, July and August than in any year since nationwide records began in 1914.

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You'd think the wet deckchairs (above) and umbrellas (below) said it all - but the weathermen say the evidence is that the summer was 'probably' the wettest ever

The figures - which do not include the last three days of the month - show that an average of nearly 358.5mms, or 14.1ins, of rain fell over the summer - just beating the previous record of 358.4mms in 1956.

However, since it is such a narrow difference and because more rainfall data has to be gathered, the Met Office said the summer could end up as the second-wettest.

Keith Groves, Head of Forecasting, said "These figures confirm what most people have already been thinking - this summer has been very wet and very disappointing for most."

The miserable summer - which saw the worst floods to hit England in 50 years - has been blamed on the unusual position of the jet stream, a ribbon of powerful winds which bring weather systems across northern Europe.

For most of the summer the jet stream was further south and stronger than normal.

Without the jet stream to protect us from bad weather, a series of depressions slouched across Britain bringing storm after storm.

The most unseasonal weather was experienced in England which saw 324.2mms of rain - or 12.7ins - easily beating the previous record in 1956 of 308.2mms - 12.1ins.

Temperatures, which topped 30C on 20 days last summer - soaring to a 36.5C (98F) high, have climbed above 30C on only one day this year - August 5, when London reached 30.3C (87F).

Average UK day-and-night temperatures, which were 15.8C (60F) last summer, dropped back this year to the usual average of 14.1C (57F).

It is feared that this year's floods will not be a one-off.

Forecaster John Hammond said: "There is evidence to suggest that, although rainfall in years ahead will decrease because of global warming, it will be that much more intense - meaning greater likelihood of flooding."