WEATHER: Few showers as drought goes on

April showers have been almost non-existent this year - with some places having less than a quarter of their usual rainfall. It looked like being a practically rain-free month until the last week, when a few drops fell.

Temperatures, on the other hand, were a little above the average - although warm days were frequently followed by frosty nights. The thermometer almost touched 22C (72F) at Bristol and Gatwick Airport on 9 and 10 April respectively, but fell to below 2C (28F) in Bournemouth on the night spanning those two dates.

The best of the sunshine was found in the South and East - but Northern Ireland and much of Scotland had a dull month.

The last week of the month produced a long-awaited change, as weather fronts moved into the North and West of the country.