Chester weathers storms

CHESTER the springer spaniel enjoys a break in the showers in a colourful field full of dandelions near Ellastone.

The stormy start to May is likely to set a trend for at least the first half of the month, as volatile weather systems flow in off the Atlantic, bringing more rain and wind throughout the rest of the week.

The current weekend forecast suggests a wet and windy washout, particularly for Saturday, but gardeners and growers will be welcoming the rain, after what turned out to be one of the driest Aprils on record.

As the week develops, it is also likely the risk of overnight frosts will subside, but daytime temperatures will fail to pick up, despite a hint towards some sunnier spells developing on Thursday and Friday - in between the showers.