Rain predicted for 40 days... sort of

That is according to 14th century folk law which claims if it rains on July 15 - better know as St Swithin's Day - rain will continue for well over a month.

But who is St Swithin and why are we trusting him to make or break our summer?

Let us clear that up with these four St Swithin's Day facts:

• St Swithun (or Swithin) was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester who died in around AD862.
• The clergyman requested that his remains be interred among the common people outside the church, but in 971, after he had been made patron saint of Winchester Cathedral, his body was dug up and moved to a new indoor shrine. Apparently, this caused a terrible downpour which continued for 40 days, hence the legend.

• The Met Office has confirmed there has not been a record of 40 dry or 40 wet days following St Swithin's Day since records began in 1861.
• However, weather experts do say that the middle of July tends to be around the time that weather settles into a relatively consistent pattern. If the jet stream lies north of the UK throughout the summer, high pressure brings warmth and sunshine. If it sticks further south, Arctic air and Atlantic weather systems bring cold, wet weather.
• St Swithin's Day is associated with the following rhyme:  St Swithin’s Day, if it does rain Full forty days, it will remain St Swithin’s Day, if it be fair For forty days, t’will rain no more.

The Met Office predicts a cloudy start today (July 15) with patchy light rain and drizzle.

The weather will turn drier with sunny spells developing for the afternoon, and feeling quite pleasant but isolated heavy showers may develop across southern counties.

Maximum Temperature: 25°C.