St. Swithin's Day

The warning was issued on St Swithin's Day, which, as the saying goes, could mean it will rain for another 40 days.

St Swithin's Day falls on the 15 July every year and - as the legend goes - if it rains, it will rain for another 40 days.

St Swithin's Day has also been given a cultural boost after the Netflix hit series One Day.

The Met Office, which look after weather statistics for the UK, has said that since the start of records in 1861, there has never been a record of 40 dry or 40 wet days in a row following St Swithin's Day.

The closest we have got in the modern record was in Cassley, Highland, which once experienced rain on St Swithin's Day and on the following 34 days.