Nice work if you can get it.

For running a state weather service that's noteworthy for its forecast being persistently and spectacularly wrong, our grateful thanks and a 25% pay rise to £200,000 a year. That should help John Hirst, head of the Met Orifice, weather out the recession.

Seven other directors received pay rises of between 3 per cent and 33 per cent. The biggest rise went to Nick Jobling, the Met Office’s chief financial officer, whose total salary jumped by a third to up to £100,000.

Meanwhile, as everyone turns up the heating to deal with the extreme snow brought on the mild winter with above average temperatures the Met Orifice predicted (fail!) the gas supply is starting to look a little shaky.

Fuck me gently with a warble gloaming induced icicle.