JANUARY in Bournemouth was one of the wettest since records began, analysis has revealed.

Heavy rain and wind led to flooding across the region throughout the beginning of 2016, making it a miserable and wet start to the year.

Forecaster Charles Thomas said: "January was notably wet.

"The changeable weather of November and December continued almost throughout but with the large anticyclone over eastern Europe having receded southwards, winds blew from the west rather than the south.

"Consequently the weather was less mild but rainfall amounts were greater.

"However, temperatures were still mainly above average apart from a cold snap in the third week."

January 20 was the coldest night since February 4, 2012.

And prolonged rain during January 26 and January 27 caused widespread flooding.

In the New Forest, one councillor dubbed the deluge as the 'worst flooding in 15 years'.

The arrival of the tail end of Storm Jonas saw trains cancelled and roads closed leading to chaos for commuters and residents alike, particularly in the areas of Brockenhurst, Sway and Sopley.

Several Environment Agency flood warnings were also issued

"Only three Januaries were wetter since Bournemouth records began in 1879, those of 2014 (238.8 mm), 1906 (186.4mm) and 1995 (184.5 mm)", Mr Thomas added.

"However, as is often the case with wet winter months, the total sunshine was also above average, as was the mean temperature."

The highest temperature recorded was 13.7C on January 31, with the lowest, -6C on January 20.

The total rainfall for the month was 184mm, with the most rain falling on January 26 - 31.9 mm.

There were seven days without sunshine and five air frosts during the month, although this was below the 7.6 average.