NORTH Yorkshire's legendary amateur weather forecaster, Bill Foggitt, has died aged 91.

His quirky predictions were based on observations of plants and wildlife around Thirsk, and supported by climate records kept by his family for 200 years.

Bill's weather-sage career began painfully in 1966 when he leaped into the path of a car during a thunderstorm.

He was attempting to reach shelter after jumping off a bus when he had the accident and ended up in hospital with a shattered leg.

It was while recovering at home that he discovered his passion for forecasting by studying the weather records of his great grandfather started in 1830.

See tomorrow's Evening Press for a full tribute to Bill.

Updated: 09:52 Tuesday, September 14, 2004