Forecasters claim March was driest in 12 years

It was the driest March for around 12 years with rain mostly limited to five days in the middle of the month.

Temperatures rose above normal during the month after a cold and frosty start.

Rainfall totals of between 15mm and 50mm generally were only around half of the normal March amounts.

Sunshine totals were above normal everywhere and, for the fifth month in a row, they were well above normal in many places.

The sunniest period of the month was between March 23 and 27, when daily values of more than 10 hours were recorded at many stations.