2023 was the second warmest year in the UK since records began in 1884

The Met Office has revealed 2023 was the second warmest year in the UK since records began in 1884.

Only 2022, which saw temperatures exceed 40C for the first time in recorded history, was hotter.

Wales and Northern Ireland had their warmest years, with the Met Office saying climate change has made these benchmarks 'significantly more likely'.

Provisional figures show 2023 had an average mean temperature of 9.97C, just behind 2022's figure of 10.03C and ahead of 2014's figure of 9.88C.

Last year also ranked the second warmest for the Central England Temperature, the world's longest instrumental temperature series from 1659.