THE current dry spell is on the brink of becoming the longest in the UK for 23 years, according to a local weather forecaster.

Frank Hill, of Malvern, worked for the Met Office for over 40 years before retiring, said the summer of 1995 saw a 22-day dry spell, just two days short of the current one.

He said: “Over the past 50 years there has been one notably dry and warm summer each decade. These were in 1976, 1983, 1995 and 2006.

The most exceptional of which, according to Mr Hill, was 1976, followed by 1995.

He said, in 1995 there were two dry spells, each lasting 22 days, while 1976 saw three dry spells, two of 14 days and one of 37.

“It looks at present as if we are heading for a summer which may challenge 1995 but has a long way to go before equalling 1976,” added Mr Hill.

With the great weather and England on the brink of a World Cup final, is this the greatest summer of your life?