Sussex experienced the wettest August for five years but Hastings still seized the crown as the sunniest spot in England and Wales.

Ken Woodhams, weatherman for The Argus, recorded 3.7in of rain, making August the second wettest of the year.

It rained on 15 days and the soggiest was August 24, when almost an inch fell.

Total rainfall for the year so far is more than 18in, almost an inch above the average and 6in more than the total rainfall for last year. Despite the downpours, the overall temperature for August was above average, this time by 1C at 18.5C (64F), for the 11th year running.

On the hottest day, August 8, the mercury soared to 29C. The coldest night was Tuesday this week, when the temperature dropped to 11C (52F).

Nationally, rainfall for the month was the highest since 1956.

The month's highest temperature of 31.5C (88.7F) was at Northolt, north-west London, on August 8.

Sunshine over England and Wales totalled 179 hours during August, two per cent below the average.

The sunniest place was Hastings, which enjoyed 225 hours of sunshine during the month.