The first day of summer and it’s colder than Christmas!

IT MAY have been the first day of the meteorological summer yesterday but parts of Britain were colder than they were on Christmas Day.

Families enjoying the half-term break left beaches deserted, while walkers were forced to drag out the winter coats again as rain and high winds battered the country.

The arrival of June saw temperatures of just 13C (55.4F) in the South East, compared to 15C (59F) on December 25 – and today will not be any better, with lows of just 3C (37.4F) in the North.

Many disgruntled Britons showed their dismay at the wet start to June, caused by cold winds blowing in from the North Sea, sharing pictures of rain- soaked clothes, giant puddles and umbrellas.

Among them was Jemma Goacher, who tweeted: ‘First day of June and we have the heating on again.’

It is particularly chilly for the time of year, which normally sees average temperatures of 19.5C (67.1F).

Earlier this week there was flooding in parts of Essex, while Wattisham in Suffolk saw 2in of rain fall in 24 hours.

But temperatures have been much warmer for those in the South West, while north of the border in Scotland has recently been enjoying some of the highest recorded temperatures in Britain, reaching 24C (75F) in Glasgow.

Meanwhile, flood warnings have been issued along the yorkshire coast today, with gusts of wind expected to reach 45mph.

It will be mainly dry across the South, with sunny spells in the West and cloudier conditions in the East, but with some showers expected in the South East.

It is expected to become warmer as we move into the weekend, with highs of 21C (69.8F) forecast for the South on Saturday, but there will be a risk of heavy showers, especially in the East.

However, there will be better conditions for those in the North, with some sunshine breaking through.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: ‘The general outlook is that conditions should improve towards the weekend.

‘That’s reflecting the different conditions over in the West where there is less cloud cover and more sunshine and it’s drier and brighter.

‘On Saturday we’re expecting temperatures, for London, possibly up into the low 20s – with 20C (68F) even as far north as Manchester.

‘Then going on into Sunday, similar values, so definitely the suggestion is that it’s turning a bit warmer.’

The UK’s astronomical summer begins with the summer solstice on June 21.