Hay fever sufferers have been forced to endure the longest hay fever season in more than two decades, scientists said.
The hay fever season for people who suffer from grass allergies, accounting for about 80% of sufferers, has been about three weeks longer than usual.
Pollen counts are usually high between the start of June and the middle of July, but this year they started early and went on for longer.
Dr Catherine Pashley, who works in the infection, immunity and inflammation department of the University of Leicester, said this summer had been distressing for people with hay fever, as symptoms including itchy eyes and runny noses lasted longer than they usually would.
Scientists working in the Midlands measured the first day of "high count" grass pollen on May 25.
The hay fever season usually begins a week later, at the start of June. The last time the season started this early was in 1991 when the first high pollen count day was on May 24.
"Through our association with the charity Midlands Asthma and Allergy Research Association, we have pollen data for this region going back to 1968," said Ms Pashley.
"Using this we can see that we have only had three years that it has been this early."
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