Bournemouth starts its own weather forecast

Bournemouth has launched its own weather service, claiming a "disastrous" Met Office forecast put off thousands of potential visitors last year.

The local service – the first of its kind – is to counter "unpredictable and confusing forecasts".

The borough council said that last year's Whitsun bank holiday prediction from the Met Office caused 25,000 potential visitors to stay at home despite the fact that Bournemouth's seven miles of beaches were "bathed in strong sunshine".

It estimates that the forecast resulted in more than £1m in lost revenue, angering the town's hoteliers and tourism officials.