Sun and hail showers: While rest of country basked in heatwave, this village had a white-out - 28th Apr 2011

Image is from Saturday 23rd Apr 2011 in the Village of Birstall, Leicestershire.

Now for the drought: Source of the River Thames dries up after driest March in more than 80 years.

The source of the River Thames has dried up after the UK experienced the lowest recorded rainfall in March since 1929.

The Thames head spring in Trewsbury Mead near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, has stopped flowing after the driest March in more than 80 years. It was fed from deep underground and joins with the River Churn to make up the waters of the Thames that stretches for 215 miles (346 km).

But a stone placed in the meadow three miles south of Cirencester to mark the source of the infamous river is as dry as a bone.

Experts are warning that the lack of rainfall is likely to lead to hosepipe bans and the possibility of droughts through the summer.

The parched start to spring has left rivers across England and Wales ‘exceptionally low’ for the time of year, putting wildlife at risk and raising the prospect of hosepipe bans.

Forecasters say this month is on course to be one of the warmest and driest on record – and follows the driest March in 60 years.

At least 13 rivers are experiencing the kind of low levels seen in April only once every 20 years.

But while it's been one of the balmiest Aprils on record, Birstall in Leicestershire endured a bizarre 20-minute mini-blizzard of hail and snow.

In a sign of the vagaries of the English springtime, while most of the UK basked in the heatwave on Saturday, Birstall was battered by a downpour with ice balls the size of large marbles that left cars and roads under three inches of ice – while temperatures soared to 27.2c (81f) just a mile away. Read More