1995

THE closest contender to 1976 for balmy nostalgia is 1995, which holds the record as the sunniest summer as well as being the second driest and fourth hottest.

Temperatures got up to 35C (95F) at times while rainfall was just 35% of the average over the summer.

In a re-run of events in 1976, gritters were deployed in the Highlands to tackle melting tar. The steam train service between Fort William and Mallaig couldn’t travel more than a mile for fear of setting the heather on fire.

And elsewhere, trains were brought to a standstill after the heat caused overhead electricity lines to droop dangerously low.