One in six think hay fever spreads like a cold

Almost one insixpeopleb eli eve hay fever can spread like the common cold, a survey has revealed.

High poll en counts are expected in parts of the country across the Bank Holiday weekend, but research by the Met Office found many are unaware of the causes and symptoms of the allergy.

The forecaster urged sufferers to check poll en levels daily throughout the summer to help monitor their condition.

Of 2,000 British people surveyed ,16 percent thought hay fever could be passed from person to person.

Around a fifth (21 per cent) did not realise a runny nose could be a symp - tom of hay fever and one in five ( 22 per cent) thought sufferers should keep the windows open to let clean air inside when they were affected.