UK's summer 'coolest since 1993' says Met Office

This summer has been the UK's coolest since 1993, provisional Met Office figures indicate.

The figures cover 1 June to 29 August. But while this summer has been wetter than 2010, it has not been as wet as 2007, 2008 or 2009.

The temperature during August has been below normal by about one degree Celsius in most parts of the UK.

But the Met Office says it has been "close to normal" over central and eastern counties of England in August.

Other figures released for this month show that the UK has overall received 126% of the normal monthly rainfall.

And figures show there has been 267.7mm of rainfall so far this summer, compared with 243.8mm of rainfall last summer.

With regard to the amount of summer sunshine in August, the UK has been below average generally. The country overall has received just 76% of the August average.

Full stats for August and for summer 2011 should be available from the Met Office on Thursday.

BBC meteorologist Susan Powell said: "If you look at the average figures for the summer you can get a negative impression.

"But there were some some good parts as well - the last week in July saw temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius in the south.

"And as we had a particularly dry spring, it's probably better for the environment that we have not had a dry summer.

"There is some good news for southern parts of England and Wales, as the start of September looks like having slightly above-average temperatures."