Last year was notable for extremes around the world, with record-breaking heat and rain and significant spells of cold and windy weather.

And the disruption will go on today as forecasters predict record-breaking heat will give way to torrential downpours and flooding.

In the summer of 1976, for instance, the country suffered from record-breaking heat and drought.

The record-breaking run has come at the expense of slower growth, however, and amid mounting concerns about the outlook.

All the same, it seems surreal that he was once the planet's biggest-selling pop star, with a record-breaking run of hit singles in 1987 and 1988.

The new high extended the digital currency's record-breaking run and stoked fears that a bubble has developed.

The recent record-breaking run has highlighted more absurdities.

Before he embarked on his record-breaking run, he had spent 20 years as a top fell runner, earning respect but modest financial rewards: he estimates his career winnings at 12,000.

This time the mercury has dipped to a record-breaking temperature.

It was taken at lunchtime yesterday — the sixth day of record-breaking temperatures.

If so, then we can expect many more record-breaking temperatures in the years to come.

It began with record-breaking temperatures and became a tournament to remember.

Yesterday's weather was a tale of two coasts as the west battened down the hatches against 80mph winds while the east basked in record-breaking temperatures.