July temperatures hit an all-time low

What a difference a year makes. Last July saw recordbreaking weather with endless sunshine and temperatures as high as 38C (100F).

At Shawbury, near Shrewsbury, the temperature fell to 11.4C (52.5F) - 19F lower than the average for the time of year, and the lowest July daytime temperature recorded in the village.

With the worst storms recorded for July, tens of thousands of homes were without power after high winds brought down lines in Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Suffolk and Essex. Rainfall figures could also break the record by the end of the month. In Wittering, Cambridgeshire, two inches fell in two hours on Wednesday - almost the average total rainfall for the whole month. Brixham in south Devon recorded a peak wind of 60 knots (69mph) on Wednesday night.

Lucy Veraswamy of the PA Weathercentre said: "Temperatures are lower than ever for the time of year."

She said after early showers in Kent the weather should clear up today. Saturday will see some showers in the afternoon, while Sunday will be brighter. Next week will stay largely unsettled.