We say 'good riddance' to wettest summer since 1912

One thing we Brits are famous for is moaning about our terrible weather – but this summer, our grumbles are supported by the numbers.

Summer officially ends today, and records show it has been the wettest Leicestershire has seen in 100 years.

On top of the seemingly endless rain, temperatures have been low, too – one day in June, the thermometer failed to break past 10C (50F).

The county has also been battered by savage storms and we have seen a fraction of the sunshine and heat expected in an average summer.

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"It's been a bit of a washout," said Leicester Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton.

"There would be an odd day here and there when it was quite nice, but there were plenty of cool days.

"One day, the temperature reached 29C (84F) and that was the hottest day, but it wasn't much of a summer."

The disappointing June weather ended in a terrifying finale when a tornado tore through the north west of the county and hailstones the size of golf balls rained down on the Hinckley area, damaging cars and homes.

Throughout July, further downpours prompted dozens of 999 calls, with firefighters having to rescue stranded motorists stuck in floodwaters.

Several homes and numerous gardens were the victims of rivers and streams bursting their banks.

Charity runs, outdoor concerts and sports fixtures were among the summer events that had to be abandoned because of the disastrous weather.

Residents across the county agreed that, weather-wise, the summer of 2012 had been a write-off.

Peggy Leawood, 79, of Shepshed, said: "It's been terrible, in a word. I couldn't get out to sort the garden all summer and it's just gone so quickly."

Chris Simpson, 55, of Leicester city centre, said: "It's been pretty weak. The early part of the summer in June and July was just awful.

"August was all right but now it's already feeling pretty cold again."

Lisa Breckin, 55, of Shepshed, said: "It's been so bad I haven't had my outdoor chairs out all summer."