Just 12 months ago the Howden Reservoir - famously used for practice runs the RAF's 'Dambusters' squadron in WWII - was cracked and parched as levels plunged 50 per cent below normal.

But this year the reservoir is back at 'dambusting' levels, as the country is hit by torrential rainfall.

The Howden lies in the picturesque Derwent Valley and together with the Derwent and Ladybower reservoirs forms the largest area of open water in the Peak District.

But there was little sign of this last year (see second picture in gallery), as temperatures soared to highs of 33 degrees in a long hot summer.

Just a short distance from the popular weekend spot of Edale on the Manchester to Sheffield railway line, the Derwent Valley will once again be attracting visitors to its beautiful landscape.

But picnickers will have to brave the rain, since the last two months have seen double the usual amount of rainfall in Derbyshire.

The country hasn't had a truly hot day since April 15 - when temperatures peaked at 23 degrees in Manchester - and more unsettled and wet weather is expected.

In stark, dry contrast, last June only 17mm fell - around 20 per cent of typical monthly total - as Britain basked in continental-style heat.

South Yorkshire

The Howden Reservoir serves the population of South Yorkshire and the East Midlands and is owned by Severn Trent, the company battling to bring clean water to flood-hit areas of the south.

In the North West, United Utilities supplies are also at high levels. A spokesman told the MEN: "This year has been completely different to last year - we really don't anticipate any problems with our reservoirs."

A Met Office spokesman told the MEN the country had seen a "dramatic" difference in weather over the last two summers.

He said: "This year we have been dominated by weather from the Atlantic where the heavy rain fall has occurred due to a mixture of hot air from the continent with cooler moist air from the Atlantic.

"Last year we had a blocking weather pattern which resulted in a lot of warm dry weather coming in from the continent, backing off the normal westerly weather pattern."

Richard Felton from United Utilities said "The reservoirs are much healthier than they were during the Spring. April was very dry, so the heavy rainfall across the region has helped to replenish the reservoirs. We always monitor reservoir levels and they are in a healthy condition.

"Although we are not anticipating any problems we always ask our customers to use their water wisely." Tweet