UK News
Met office says 2007 second warmest UK year (Roundup)
By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer
Jan 4, 2008, 12:26 GMT

(M&C) - Last year was the UK's second warmest on record according to figures released by the Met Office.

The UK's weather forecaster said the average mean temperature across the UK was 9.6C, which continues the upward trend since UK-wide temperatures were first recorded in Britain in 1914.

Since that year, nine of the ten hottest years in Britain have occurred since 1989.

"To the public it seemed like a very dull and cool year because we didn't get a heatwave," said Met office climate scientist Dr Matt Huddleston.

"But the warm night temperatures and the lack of frosts mean on average it was a very warm year."

The high average temperatures continued despite a La Nina weather pattern which tends to cool down global temperatures.