The lack of rainfall during our record-breaking hot summer has hampered the growth of key food crops in parched soils.

As a result, analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) estimates the UK is on course to record its smallest cereals and oilseeds harvest since detailed records began in 1984.

In East Anglia, farmers have reported huge drops in yields and revenue, prompting appeals for more government help to access water for food production - but also sparking discussions about potentially growing more Mediterranean crops in future such as olives and grapes, which could be better suited to our warming climate.

Tom Dye, estate director at the Barsham Estate near Fakenham (Image: Barsham Estate)

Tom Dye is estate director at the Barsham Estate near Fakenham, which completed harvesting its 2,000 acres of wheat, barley and oilseed rape on Wednesday.

"I feel quite glum about it," he said. "On the face of it is the worst harvest I've ever seen.

"When I look at the latest budget projections, which were done for the first of July, the yield reductions relative to that budget are anything between 7pc and 38pc.

"Soil type and crop........

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