THE freaky English summer just keeps getting worse and this week was no exception.

On Tuesday the heavens opened over Taunton after a deceptively sunny start with thunder and lighting making everyone run for cover.

An accident on the M5 between Wellington and Tiverton was said by police to have been caused by the atrocious storms, and ensued in a three-car collision at 7.45am on Tuesday.

Two cars, one a taxi, ended up on the hard shoulder and another car hit the central reservation.

The fire brigade and police attended the scene, closing off two lanes of the motorway, and two people suffered minor injuries.

And it's not just the traffic being affected by our unpredictable climate. Our food stocks are suffering with many farmers struggling to supply the shops with vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower.

Granny Smiths fruit and vegetable shop in Taunton said it was having to increase prices due to the shortage of stock.

Owner Paul Diment told the County Gazette: "The English cherry season has been affected, both the availability and the quality. "Temperatures aren't allowing the strawberries to grow quickly so it has affected the price.

"Broccoli and cauliflower, runner beans, broad beans and peas have all been affected.

"All the supplies are low but the demands are reasonably high so prices are going up on English produce."