The hot weather looks set to continue which is bad news for farmers that are praying for rain…

Figures from the Met Office show the average temperature across the UK since the start of March is just over 48.6F (9.2C) – the warmest since records began in 1910. The fine weather forecast for the rest of May is only likely to push it higher. The previous record spring was 2007, with an average a shade lower at 48.3F (9.05C).

Although a glorious boon for sun-lovers and outdoors enthusiasts, the unseasonally high temperatures and lack of rainfall have caused severe problems for farmers and gardeners.

Exhibitors at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show have been forced to change their spring flower displays for summer blooms or even refrigerate their plants to slow their development. There is no relief on the way for farmers affected by a drought which has seen England and Wales averaging just over 2ins (61mm) of rain since March 1, and less than half an inch (10mm) in western Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

In some areas, the rainfall in March and April has been the lowest for a century.

A dire harvest is predicted this year and there is a lack of grass to provide feed for livestock, both of which will put inflationary pressure on food prices for months.

There are also deepening fears over possible water restrictions and the need for hosepipe bans with reservoir and river levels in several areas remaining extremely low.

According to the Environment Agency, which has now activated its drought plan, the south west, central and eastern England as well as southern Wales have received below average rainfall since October 2010.

This spring could also be the sunniest since 1910, with May averaging 108.1 hours of sunshine up to the 15th of the month.

If the fine weather holds and Britain gets a further 116.4 hours, it will beat a record that has stood since 1948.

All these records might not be broken but the weather would have to take a severe turn for the worst when forecasters have predicted more sunshine.