RECORD temperatures may be an indication of climate change, campaigners have claimed.

Met Office climate scientists have released provisional figures which show this April was the hottest since records began.

The 12-month rolling period ending in April is also estimated to be the warmest on record.

Provisional figures show the average temperature for this period is 11.6C, beating the previous record of 11.1C for the 12-month period ending in October 1995.

The provisional average temperature for April is 11.1C, dwarfing the previous record of 10.6C set in 1865.

According to the Met Office, the warming trend seen since the 1980s reflects the climate predictions made at its Hadley Centre.

The centre researches the effect climate change could have in the UK and around the world.

Climate scientist at the centre, Dr Debbie Hemming, said: "The effects of temperature rise are being experienced on a global scale."

Dr Ashok Sinha, director of Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of global warming groups, said: "We can't say these figures for April are definitely the result of climate change, but it is consistent with the kind of rise in temperature we would expect from global warming.

"Remember how hot it has been over previous summers.

"You could say if we don't do anything about climate change soon, it will become normal for this country."

Friends of the Earth spokesman Neil Verlander said: "It is very difficult to link any particular incident to climate change, but this is in line with the predictions climate scientists are making.

"I think it shows a need for organised action to deal with the problem.

"Long-term government targets for CO2 reductions look like they will not be met.

"We think it is time to introduce annual targets with a three per cent reduction every year."