90% of hottest years were in last decade

Nine out of ten of the hottest years on record have occurred in the last decade, scientists reveal today.

And, despite the washout of Wimbledon and the dramatic floods at Boscastle, 2004 is set to be ranked fourth hottest since 1861.

The findings, compiled by the Met Office and the University of East Anglia for the World Meteorological Organisation, support claims that humans are responsible.

Last night, environmental groups were quick to put pressure on governments worldwide to realise the impact of global warming.

Tony Blair was accused of being 'all mouth and no trousers' when it came to climate change.

According to today's figures, the only year in the last decade not to make it into the top ten was 1996. Phil Jones, professor and director of the climatic research unit at UEA, said: 'That nine of the ten warmest years on record have occurred in the last decade is truly remarkable.

'The most likely reason is that the world is getting warmer because of global warming.'

Met Office climate scientist David Parker said: 'Average global temperature has risen by around 0.7°C since the end of the 19th century and it is very likely that the warming over the past 50 years is mainly due to human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels.'

For England, this year will be the fifth warmest ever in the Central England Temperature series, which dates back to 1659. The average temperature for 1961-1990 was 9.47°C, but in 2004 rose 1.08°C above that.

Doug Parr, Greenpeace's chief scientist, said: 'We've had enough scientific warnings - global warming is killing thousands of people every year.

'Tony Blair must match rhetoric with action. At the moment it looks like he's all mouth and no trousers when it comes to climate change.

'And with climate change coming so high on the forthcoming G8 agenda, Mr Blair must persuade the US to sign up to Kyoto and cut greenhouse gas emissions.'

The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 demands that Britain cuts its CO2 emissions by

12.5 per cent by 2010.

Present levels suggest Britain will achieve a 14 per cent reduction.