Hottest ever June left rivers full of dead fish

OUR warmest June on record has caused unprecedented deaths of fish, environmentalists said

- Steph Spyro

It also meant Britain's insect populations were starved of food supplies as many flowering plants wilted in the scorching heat.

The warning came as the Met Office confirmed last month's average temperature of 15.8C was the highest since records began in 1884 - eclipsing the previous one by 0.9C.

The hottest mercury recording that month was 32.2C (89.9F), driven by a spate of warm, humid air.

And experts have said the "fingerprint of climate change" is on the record figures across 72 counties.

Mark McCarthy, of the Met Office, said: "What's striking is the persistent warmth for much of the month, with temperatures widely into the mid 20s for many and even into the low 30s at times."