It may have rained cats and dogs recently but deep under the Mendip Hills the signs are that the drought is far from over – or so the latest ‘witch report’ claims.
While the Environment Agency harnesses sophisticated 21st century equipment to measure rainfall, guides in Somerset's famous Wookey Hole Caves, near Wells, have for years used a witch’s broom handle as a measuring stick to show water levels in the subterranean River Axe.
They say the level has been falling year on year with 2012 showing a further decline.
The tourist attraction’s general manager Daniel Medley said: “The cave guides have dipped the broomstick into the water at the same point and the notches on it show the water level. It is not scientific but it shows that despite the rain we have had recently water levels are still very low.
“It has to be appreciated that this water has percolated down through 1,000 ft of limestone before visitors see it as the River Axe in the caves.
“Although it looks very still it is in fact flowing quite quickly and rises and falls depending on rainfall. What has been noticeable over the past few weeks is that although it seems to have been raining a lot the water is not getting down to the cave floor. It shows that the authorities are right in declaring a drought.”
However, the recent wet weather is a cloud with a silver lining for Wookey Hole Caves, owned by the circus proprietor Gerry Cottle.
Mr Medley added: “Unlike many other tourist attractions, the rain is not bad for us. People with children especially want somewhere where they can get out and about and burn off some energy but stay dry."
The caves were formed by rain from the Mendips carving out caverns in the limestone. Fittingly, the legend of the Witch of Wookey Hole is believed to have started hundreds of years ago when an old woman who lived in the caves was blamed for the lack of water during a previous drought.
A monk from nearby Glastonbury dealt with the troublesome woman by sprinkling her with Holy Water and claiming she had turned to stone. Visitors can still see the stalagmite that locals believed was the petrified witch.
