Monsoon summer hits UK economy for £1billion

THE wettest spring and summer for a century has cost rural Britain £1.1billion in lost revenue, an investigation has found.

The burden was carried by farmers in terms of failed crops and storm damage while tourist attractions drew fewer visitors.

Wet and stormy weather hit peas, asparagus and grapes, while fungi that thrive in damp conditions spread among other fruit and vegetables, forcing up prices for consumers.

Between waterlogged crops, rising vet bills and machinery damage, farmers lost £600million, according to figures compiled by the BBC’s Countryfile programme.

Much of this figure was down to the decline in insects such as bees and hoverflies – due to rain – which are vital for pollinating plants.

Meanwhile figures from the National Trust, English Nature, Historic Scotland and the Camping and Caravanning Club shows visitor numbers were down by around 12 per cent, cutting income by an estimated £478million.

Following a week of warm weather for the south of England last week and a blazing weekend

‘Forcing up prices’

where temperatures reached 29.3C (84.F), downpours and wind are forecast this week.

A band of heavy rain will hit most of England and Wales tomorrow, after a cloudy drizzly day today for most places and temperatures down to just 18C (65F) at best.

The Met Office confirmed that the three months of June, July and August were the wettest since records began in 1912.

Several summer events were cancelled due to the poor weather including music festivals and rural shows – a bill put at £240million.

Nick Way, of the Historic Houses Association, said their poll of 60 stately homes showed a 22 per cent drop in visitor numbers.

He added: ‘It’s not just the houses, but the shops and the cafes there which suffer too. Houses with gardens were badly hit during the wet spring.’

A spokesman for the NFU Mutual which insures two thirds of Britain’s farmers said it was the worst year for their customers since the 2007 floods.