UK winter 'second warmest on record'

Figures released today by the Met Office suggest that this winter has been the second warmest on record in the UK.

A mean temperature of 5.47 degrees C has been recorded and ranks second when compared to the national records which date back to 1914.

In relation to the Central England Temperature, it's certainly been a warm winter but was still behind the warmest figure of 6.77 degrees C recorded in 1869.

In a statement the Met Office said: "The south of England has recorded its warmest ever winter with a mean temperature of 6.53 degrees C, beating the previous high of 6.49 degrees C set in 1989-90.

"Rainfall figures show most areas of the UK to have been very wet with only Northern Ireland recording figures close to average.

"Full figures for the season reveal that it has been mild for all parts of the UK, sunnier than average for most parts and wetter than average (based on 1971 to 2000 averages)."

The last 12 months have been part of a trend of warmer weather in the UK, with a number of records challenged or broken.