Ref. 31048-28JUST days after soaring temperatures, Swindon has been plunged into the depths of wet gloomy weather.

The sunglasses have been put away and the umbrellas have popped up as the clear blue skies have turned a dull grey.

The area has fallen victim to a merciless weather depression an area of low pressure, that is covering most of central and southwestern England.

The low-pressure area is so large forecasters believe it won't clear until next week.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "It is Wimbledon and at the moment we are in the middle of a very deep depression which has lead to this very windy, wet and unsettled weather."

Original estimates by the Met Office said the current weather would be a record low, although this has not proved to be the case.

"It is not uncommon for the weather to be like this in Wimbledon week.

"The weather should start to improve over the weekend, temperatures should rise into the 20s but there will still be a risk of showers."

But tell that to the hundreds of children across the town yesterday who had their sports days postponed due to soggy fields.

Youngsters at Moredon Junior, Saltway Primary and St Andrew's Primary were forced to have indoors lessons after two days of heavy rain.

Hazel Merryfield, assistant head and sports day organiser at Moredon Junior School, said most of the children were disappointed at not being able to take part.

Mrs Merryfield said: "This is the first time I have ever had to postpone a sports day in eight or nine years. In other years if it has been a bit cloudy, or if it's been raining it has dried out by early afternoon.

"All the children have been looking forward to getting competitive but it is far too dangerous out there, and who wants to sit on wet grass?

"Although, I am sure there will be a few children who are relieved."

Emma Valentine, spokeswoman for Lydiard House, said: "During the mid-week we tend to be a bit quieter, although it is a general rule that when we have bad weather the indoor museums always do a bit better."

Meanwhile at the Cotswold Water Park near Ashton Keynes there was a slight dip in visitors because of the rain but an increase in numbers of people participating in some water-based activities.

Caroline Smith, of the Cotswold Water Park Society, said: "We tend to get most of our visitors during the weekend so we don't see too much of a difference in the weekdays.

"We do get a slight increase in people taking to the water, particularly wind-surfers enjoying the strong winds."

Swindon's weather is measured from RAF Lyneham near Wootton Bassett. According to records, June is the wettest summer month receiving an average of 58.5mm of rain.

Anthony Osborne