HAYFEVER sufferers have had to cope with their toughest week yet as grass pollen counts have soared to the highest levels since recording started in Worcester a decade ago.

The pollen-monitoring site, run by the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, based at University College Worcester, recorded daily grass pollen counts of 665, 515 and 699 grains per cubic meter on Saturday, June 18 to Monday June 20, the highest levels in Worcester since records began in 1995.

Sufferer Suzanne Black has found that this had been her toughest year yet having lived with the allergy since childhood.

"This is the first time I've felt ill with it," said the 27-year-old Worcester News reporter, of Malvern.

"It's just left me without any energy and with flu-like symptoms, it's really knocked me for six."

Anything more than 150 is considered very high.

The highest count recorded at Worcester previously was 592, which was in 2001.

Professor Jean Emberlin, director of the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit said: "The current run of high counts is due to a combination of good conditions for grass growth in the spring, which has produced a lot of pollen on the plants, followed by the warm dry weather which has given ideal conditions for pollen dispersal."

Very high pollen counts have been recorded throughout the UK during this week, with around 25 per cent of the population affected. The group with the highest prevalence rate of pollen allergy are teenagers, with 38 per cent affected.

Research at the unit also revealed that hayfever caused students to under-perform and that grades were hit during the summer months.

For further information on hayfever and weather and pollen forecasts visit www.pollenuk.co.uk

PEAK POLLEN TIMES

February: HAZEL - Mid February to mid-March.

YEW- End of February to the end of March.

March: ALDER - Mid February to early April

ELM - Early March to early April.

WILLOW - Early March to early April.

April: POPLAR - Last two weeks of March.

ASH - Last three weeks in April.

May: PLANE - First three weeks in May.

BIRCH - End of March to mid May.

OAK - End of April to Early June.

June: OIL SEED RAPE - Early May to the end of June.

PINE - Early May to the end of June.

GRASS - June and July.

July: PLANTAIN - June to early July.

LIME - mid June to mid July.

DOCK - End of June to end of July.

August: NETTLE - End of June to Mid August. MUGWORT - Mid July to mid August.