First it was the cold and rain keeping visitors away from Britain’s outdoor tourist attractions. Now, in a twist worthy of Goldilocks, they have suffered again from weather that is too hot.

Extreme weather, including the record-breaking hot summer, has led to a fall in annual visitor numbers at outdoor attractions in 2018, according to a new report.

Several gardens, zoos, wetlands and stately homes with parkland saw a drop in demand as the UK was hit by both freezing and unusually warm temperatures in 2018, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva) said.

The country's second most popular garden, RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, saw its visitor numbers drop by more than 70,000. Other outdoor attractions to experience a decline included the Eden Project in Cornwall, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Blenheim Palace, and Chatsworth House, Derbyshire.

The UK saw widespread snow between January and March, partly due to the so-called Beast from the East, with temperatures dropping to minus 14C (6.8F).

This was followed by a heatwave, which led to the joint-hottest summer on record.