Wettest March in the UK for a decade

Last month was the wettest March in the UK for a decade, according to official figures.

The Met Office data showed average UK rainfall last month was 104.4mm, the highest for that month since 2008 when it reached 122.5mm.

The latest figure includes the heavy snowstorms, dubbed the Beast from the East, which came in two waves and caused widespread disruption.

Of the home nations, England was the most sodden, recording an average rainfall of 102.2mm - the highest since 1981.

Rainfall figures for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were recorded as 151.4mm, 98.7mm and 85.8mm respectively - all down compared with the previous year.

The wettest area in terms of higher than average rainfall were the historic Scottish county of Kincardineshire, near Aberdeenshire, which saw more than double the amount of rain and snow expected at 162.7mm (236%).

Worcestershire (223%), Gloucestershire (219%), East Lothianshire (214%) and Herefordshire (205%) completed the top five wettest areas in the country, the Met Office said.

In terms of average rainfall, the five most sodden counties were Glamorgan, South Wales at 205mm, Devon, England at 190mm, the historic county of Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire, in mid-Wales at 182.5mm and 173.1mm respectively and Cornwall at 172.9mm.