London rainy on St Swithin's, but forecasters claim the next week should be dry

IT could be a rainy month or so for north London residents after the heavens opened this morning on the dreaded St Swithin s day. Legend has it that if it rains on St Swithin s – July 15 – there will be rain for 40 days and 40 nights. However, forecasters

IT could be a rainy month or so for north London residents after the heavens opened this morning on the dreaded St Swithin's day.

Legend has it that if it rains on St Swithin's - July 15 - there will be rain for 40 days and 40 nights.

However, forecasters today claimed that - though we are unlikely to return to the heatwave temperatures of the weekend - we won't be seeing rainy skies for the next 40 days.

While the next few days will be cloudy with some sunny intervals, forecasters say the myth won't bear out and that the next rain shower shouldn't hit the capital until Sunday.

July 15 is the feast day of St Swithin, a 9th Century Bishop in the Saxon kingdom of Wessex.

According to the legend, the bishop instructed that he should be buried outside Winchester Cathedral in humble surroundings.

But in 971, his remains were dug up and moved inside the building - a decision which coincided with 40 days and 40 nights of violent storms.