Total hours of sunshine across the country are currently the lowest since 2012.

Britain has had the worst summer for a decade

This time last year, Brits were basking in temperatures above 36C

And this summer's top temperature of 32.5C (90.5F), recorded at the end of last month, is the lowest for ten years.

Data obtained by The Sun via the Met Office reveals the UK has seen just 442 hours of sunshine since June 1.

Previous summers in the past ten years have basked in up to 615 hours of sun.

And this time last year, Brits sweltered in the hottest August day for 17 years — as the temperature spiked above 36C.

Sun-lovers flocked to the coast and thousands were even told to stay away because beaches were too packed.

Seaside hot spots in Dorset were declared “unsafe” and the council in Bournemouth issued a “red alert” for people not to visit the destination.

This year, however, despite a surge in staycations after Covid travel uncertainty, the beaches have been largely deserted.

Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said: “This summer has certainly been unremarkable and pretty bland. It’s not going to be remembered for warmth.

“We’ve had flooding, some parts of the country have seen double their average rainfall, and temperatures have been average.”

And he warned: “A heatwave is not on the cards either.”

The Met Office figures show this August has been exceptionally grim. The average maximum temperature is currently at 19C.

It has only gone lower in the past ten years on four occasions.

The Met said the meteorological summer — from June 1 to August 31 — is also among the driest of the past ten years, with 167mm of rain so far.

But it warned of further heavy downpours for the rest of the month. Its forecast says: “Initially unsettled, particularly in the South, with extensive rain and showers on Sunday.

“Conditions should become more settled into next week, with plenty of dry weather with occasional sunny spells.”

It added: “These more settled conditions could remain throughout the week, however rain and showers could develop once again.”

"Some parts of the country have seen double their average rainfall."

Last month, hospitals faced flooding chaos after a month of rain fell in only a few hours.

Around 100 inpatients were evacuated at Whipps Cross Hospital, in East London, as water cascaded down stairs and corridors. At nearby Newham Hospital, the deluged A&E department urged patients to seek care elsewhere as rain lashed the capital.

But Mr Keates said: “The obvious caveat is we still have over a week to go before the end of summer and things can change quite quickly.

“Let’s not give up hope altogether. Some Septembers have come up trumps in recent years.”

*  FILEY Beach, near Scarborough in Yorkshire, made a list of the top 20 beaches in Europe, at No18. US guide Far & Wide had Bournemouth at No5.

Unfortunately, forecasters predict even more wet weather for the rest of the month

We have only seen 442 hours of sunshine since June 1

Some parts of the country have seen double their average rainfall