HE MAY have famously got it wrong in 1987, but former weatherman Michael Fish's predictions about the future will shake up the sceptics, campaigners say.

The former BBC forecaster, who played down the threat of a hurricane approaching Britain in 1987, will give a 'dire warning' to Dorset about years of worsening weather which can't be stopped.

His appearance in Dorchester is part of Dorset's Climate Week which runs from March 1-6.

Mr Fish, who became a national icon through his forecasts on the BBC, will spearhead a 'grim reality check'.

He will deliver a lecture at the Corn Exchange on Monday, March 3 entitled 'Climate Change - The Ultimate Weapon Of Mass Destruction'. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance.

Mr Fish, who spent 42 years with the Meteorological Office, said: “There could be much more severe weather and floods in the UK. It is too late to do more than slow it.

He added: “The weird weather has already been responsible for possibly millions of deaths and many more will occur, through floods, droughts, disease and famine.”

Although authorities are only recently waking up to the problems of climate change, Mr Fish said the weather has been known to be worsening for more than 40 years.

He added: “The South West can expect more floods and droughts. The only advantage will be a longer growing season.”

Supporting Mr Fish's forecast that the effects of climate change may be slowed, Dorset's Communities Living Sustainably (CLS) group has organised a week of events aimed at inspiring a new wave of action against the weather threat.

  • March 1 The campaign will launch at Litton and Thorner's Community Hall, Litton Cheney, with an action planning meeting on strengthening local food links in West Dorset. Speakers including Tom Andrews of the new national Sustainable Food Cities Programme and Traci Lewis from Foods Plymouth will share their experiences and advice for putting food at the heart of the local policy agenda.
  • March 3 Mr Fish will be joined by writer and poet Matt Harvey in Dorchester, who will present his view on sustainable energy. Free tickets for Michael Fish's lecture and other events can be booked at clsdorset.org.uk *March 5 Pupils from schools in Bridport will meet with the CLS to discuss ideas for tackling climate change. Schools around Dorchester will also be visited by CLS representatives to launch a two-year initiative to lessen environmental impact and encourage environmental leadership in students.
  • March 6 Bridport Arts Centre will host a Focus On Energy film day, which will include movies on the evidence of climate change, energy efficiency in the home and a documentary with contributions from more than 50 politicians, scientists and environmental campaigners on the state of the planet and how to save it.
  • For more information on Climate Week 2014, the UK's biggest campaign to promote action on climate change, go to climateweek.com