LAST year was the wettest ever recorded by local expert Roy Haviland, of Lydney.

However, Mr Haviland, of Bathurst Park Road, says the total of 1,295 mls (close to 4 ft) was only marginally more than the 1,223 mls recorded in the year 2000.

The wettest month of last year was December with a total of 195 mls. The wettest day was December 19 when 31 mls fell. In all there were just 11 dry days in the month.

The 2011 rainfall total was 715 mls and followed a wetter 2010 when just over 1,000 mls was recorded.

Despite last year's downpours Mr Haviland says there is no evidence of a significant change in weather patterns or any indication of global warming.

Mr Haviland said the biggest weather event of the year had, in his opinion, not been the heavy rain but a remarkable drop in air pressure when the reading on his barometer plunged from 1006 to 978.

"It was by far the lowest I have ever recorded. It happened very quickly and at first I thought the barometer was broken," he said.