St Swithin’s Day rain casts cloud over summer

LEGEND suggests that yesterday’s rain will lead to downpours for the next 40 days, potentially ruining the rest of July and August.

Yesterday was St Swithin’s Day, and according to the 9th-century tale, if it rains on the saint’s day it will continue for the next 40 days, despite July 15 being in the middle of summer.

The tradition stems from the tale that when the remains of Swithin, a Saxon bishop, were removed from his preferred burial place outside Winchester Cathedral, it led to 40 days of continuous rain and storms.