Britain set for stonking summer

It's not all bad news for pubs, then. Britain's weather is set to be better than average this summer, according to the Met Office.

The long-range forecast says summer temperatures across the UK are "likely to be warmer than average". Rainfall will be "near or below average for the three months of summer".

The Met Office said: "Although the forecast is for a drier and warmer summer than average, that does not mean that we will not get some heavy downpours at times. However, a repeat of the wet summers of 2007 and 2008 is unlikely."

"Amen to that!" said Nigel Anstead, Charles Wells tenant of the White Horse in Bedford.

"If we had a great summer it would help us enormously. For a lot of pubs with gardens it will mean bums on seats."

However, Anstead said he takes the prediction with a "pinch of salt" and will see what develops.

The prediction is in contrast to 2008's poor summer and the wash-outs that have occurred in the proceeding few years.