A powerful heatwave, loitering summer and incredibly mild autumn and early winter have meant that the mean temperature in Britain over the past twelve months was 10.84 degrees Celsius, beating the previous tied hottest years of 1990 and 1999 by 0.21 degrees. Records of annual mean temperatures have been taken since 1659.

Scientists at the University of East Anglia have warned that they believe there’s no doubt human behaviour is to blame for the record-breaking year.

Professor Phil Jones, director of the climatic research unit at the University of East Anglia, said that he had no doubt human activity, and not natural causes, was responsible for the temperature rise. “Our climate models show we should be getting warmer and drier weather in the summer and warmer and wetter in the winter - and that’s exactly what we’re seeing,” he said. “I cannot see how else this can be explained.”

Professor Jones added his frustration at those in power. “The government is making many of the right noises, but we really should be doing more. We were the first country to industrialise, why can’t we become the first to really reduce our emissions?” he asked.

“I despair when I hear the government talking about extensions to airports, when air travel is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases. It’s as if there’s a belief in government that this will sort itself out.”

2006 has also spawned record-breaking months, with July’s 19.7 degrees mean temperature making it the hottest ever recorded, while September notched up and impressive, though ultimately worrying, 16.8 degrees.