John, Please be advised that I have been recording minimum and maximum temperatures in Chelmsford, Essex for the last four years and can now confirm that the average July temperatures are set to be the highest yet... Day time Average Temp July 2006 (excluding tomorrow of course) = 27.20C (July '05 = 22.3C, July '04 = 21C, July '03 = 23.1C, July '02 = 20.6C) Night time Average Temp July 2006 = 16.33C (July '05 = 13.8C, July '04 = 12.8C, July '03 = 14.3C, July '02 = 12.4C) So despite the coldest January - March period since 2002 for this area (and the driest), the last few months have been warmer or significantly warmer than previous years. Let's just hope the rest of the year proves as interesting, for one reason or another. SJPD