IT'S official, as if you couldn't guess - England and Wales have the wettest autumn since records began almost 300 years ago.

But as forecasters confirmed the grim statistics, another unseasonal weather twist was predicted for today, with temperatures set to soar to a two-decade high.

Forecasters say temperatures could reach 17C (63F) in some parts of the country.

However, it is only likely to be a brief respite, as more bad weather is due.

This autumn has smashed all records with 77 per cent more rain than average - a total of 460mm.

Meanwhile, a small lump of rock has yielded vital clues to changes in the weather over the last 1,000 years.

And the findings have cast doubt on claims that global warming is responsible for this year's rain and flooding.

Newcastle University researcher Dr Andy Baker has pioneered work to trace past rainfall patterns by studying the rate of growth of stalagmites, rock formations created by minerals in water dripping onto the floor of a cave.

The five-year £120,000 study analysed a stalagmite 32mm high taken from a cave in north-west Scotland.

Dr Baker said: "Stalagmites can recall climate change in the same way as tree rings.

"What our records show is that over the last 1,000 years, the rainfall has been as variable as it appears now.

"If natural climate variability is causing the floods, then rather than people jumping on the bandwagon and blaming global warming, it means we can't do anything to stop them."

Cooling climate row - Page 2