'8 month hay fever' not to be sneezed at

POLLEN AGONY

- ALISTAIR GRANT

THE hay fever season is starting weeks early - and will now last eight months.

Temperatures more than 5C above average have sparked a pollen boom - and winter sneezing misery for millions.

As a result, tomorrow will be the first day of the year to see high levels of tree pollen. The springlike conditions have brought alder pollen a week early, with birch pollen due almost two weeks ahead of schedule in March.