A BOURNEMOUTH tourism chief is calling for more wet weather facilities in the resort after the UK's wettest summer on record.

Statistics show that more rain fell in June, July and August than at any equivalent time since records began.

Soggy Britain soaked up 358.5mm of rain, beating the previous high of 358.4mm in 1956.

Hotelier and Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association chairman Alison Gandolfi said the poor weather had affected the town's tourism industry.

"It has been a reasonable summer, not the disaster that some people have portrayed, but nothing like last year, which was exceptional because of the fine weather," she said.

"People have still come here and made the most of what good weather we have had.

"The last couple of weeks have been busy, September is looking good and I'm fully booked for the whole month.

"Last-minute bookings during the past fortnight haven't been a problem but there was a period in July and August when hotels relying on late bookings did struggle."

Alison told the Daily Echo: "There is definitely a need for more wet weather leisure facilities.

"The people who stay with us have cars so they were able to travel to attractions out of town like Kingston Lacy.

"As long as the rain wasn't pounding down they were quite happy."

She added: "What I'd also like to see is more classic tea and coffee shops, not simply geared towards youngsters, where older visitors could sit in comfort and relax."

The borough's head of tourism, Mark Smith, said: "Despite it being the wettest summer on record for the UK as a whole, Bournemouth has been busy and vibrant.

"We forget that summer came earlier than normal.

"April was the warmest, driest and sunniest since 1914, generating excellent trade and stimulating good advance bookings.

"Although in May, June and July we saw more rain than we are used to we were still 10 per cent below the national average, thanks to our local micro-climate."

He added: "The prosperity of the resort does not hinge on day visitors.

"In addition to our loyal base of staying holidaymakers, we also have a strong conference market and boast the largest international language school base outside London."