AFTER the warmest year on record in Suffolk, the county could be about to bask in even hotter temperatures in 2007, forecasters predicted today.Evening Star weatherman Ken Blowers said that claims there was a 60 per cent chance that the global temperature in 2007 would beat previous records were accurate.

AFTER the warmest year on record in Suffolk, the county could be about to bask in even hotter temperatures in 2007, forecasters predicted today.

Evening Star weatherman Ken Blowers said that claims there was a 60 per cent chance that the global temperature in 2007 would beat previous records were accurate.

Climate change experts believe the temperature this year will be 0.54C above the long-term average of 14C, beating the previous warmest year in 1998.

The forecast follows news that 2006 was the warmest year on record across the UK, including Suffolk.

Mr Blowers said: “We hear every year that the next 12 months will be the warmest, and it's usually right.

“In 2006, we had the warmest July for 300 years and the warmest autumn for 300 years.

“And we are already above the average for January. The temperature today is 50F (10C), while the average is 43F (6C).

“I'm quite sure 2007 will be another hot one.”

The forecast for the warmest year came from the Met Office, which joins forces with the University of East Anglia each January to issue predictions for the global surface temperature for the coming year.

It takes into account known contributing factors, such as solar effects, the weather system El Nino and concentrations of greenhouse gases.

During 2006 there was an average temperature of 9.7C - 1.1C above average.

Kate Hopkins, from Met Office Consulting, said: “This new information represents another warning that climate change is happening around the world.

“Our work in the climate change consultancy team applies Met Office research to help businesses mitigate against risk and adapt at a strategic level for success in the new environment.”