AN UNNATURAL fear of the weather (timor tempestatis) is an imaginary condition, that seems to be a predominantly middle class affliction.

Those afflicted are self confessed climate change ‘deniers’ (the pejorative language they use), as they believe that the climate is controlled by carbon dioxide concentrations and that a certain level of parts per million in the atmosphere will cause the climate to magically â’stabilise’.

They willingly pay the £450 per household that the Office for Budget Responsibility estimates is the cost of subsidising, what they call ‘renewables’, and they will no doubt be delighted to pay the thousands required to convert their boilers and pipe work when natural gas is banned as a heating and cooking fuel.

Other symptoms cause them to purchase subsidised electric cars (only 27k for a new BMW) which they believe will help to save the world from Armageddon.

Over a glass of Rioja or New Zealand wine, they will rant at the irresponsible poor who want to spend time in Benidorm or

Tenerife, and will virtuously suggest that the employees in the tourist industries in Spain return to the idyllic life of the rural peasant.

Sadly, there is no cure for these poor souls who will live the most of their lives cowering in darkened rooms constantly scanning the thermometer for confirmation of their superior intellects, whilst watching Ice Age 2: The Meltdown on repeat.

JOHN ELLWOOD

Redmayne Drive,

Carnforth