- England and Wales have experienced their warmest spring on record, according to provisional figures released by the Met Office .
- The seasonal mean average temperature for the period from 1 March to 31 May was the highest since comparable data began in 1884.
- This unprecedented warmth was significantly influenced by an “exceptionally early and record-breaking spell of heat at the end of May”, the Met Office said.
- Across the UK as a whole, it was the third warmest spring on record, with Scotland and Northern Ireland also seeing notably high temperatures.
- A National Drought Group meeting is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks to assess the impact of the recent heatwave.
IN FULL