As a comment on the weather, there is something about the phrase “it’s grim down south” which just doesn’t sound right.

It is the north, after all, which has traditionally been worst affected by Britain’s turbulent climate.

But according to new long-term modelling by the Met Office, it is a concept we are going to have to get used to.

The study predicts that by the end of the century summers could be drier in Scotland and the North of England than they are in the South, with rainfall reducing in some areas by as much as 50 per cent.

The northern rainfall which does occur, however, is likely to be more extreme, bringing with it a higher risk of flash floods.

By contrast, a previous Met Office study focusing on the South of England predicts a significant increase in summer showers, which will also become more intense.

Meteorologists are attributing the predicted changes to global warming and based their calculations on the premise the world will continue to emit increasing levels of greenhouse gases.