Hay fever fears rise over 'severe' year for tree pollen

And people in central regions of the UK could be worst hit.
Those sensitive to the allergens are already being hit by runny noses, sneezing and itchy eyes as trees start to release fine particles into the air.
The Met Office, which will launch its daily pollen forecast on Thursday, has been monitoring the atmosphere for clues about what to expect.
Leading pollen forecaster Dr Beverley Adams-Groom, of Worcester University, whose work informs Met Office predictions, said this season would be "more severe than average" due to warmer weather last June.
Triggering
She added: "Climate change is triggering the increase. In June of the previous summer, birch pollen is set in the buds and when June is warmer there tends to be an increased amount of pollen produced.
"Increasingly warmer June temperatures are occurring due to climate change, and the effect is particularly affecting central regions of the UK."
The trend is less pronounced in southern and eastern parts "due to periods of cold winds in the spring that tend to reduce the amount of pollen released during the season".
The birch pollen season is due to start in early April but alder pollen is already at high levels, with moderate levels of hazel pollen in some areas, according to Worc...