The cloud-spotter's guide

Clouds were first classified in 1803

For one man, the onset of summer with bright sunlight and blue skies is bad news.

That's because Gavin Pretor-Pinney is a dedicated cloud spotter.

He's set up the Cloud Appreciation Society - which now has an online membership of 3,400.

The Cloud Appreication Society

Bernard Rowlands sent us this picture

And he insists that clouds are wrongly associated with bad weather.

Gavin says that like many children, he was fascinated with cloud shapes, but unlike many people, the enthusiasm has stayed with him.

On his website there are clouds which look like shapes - including one that looks like Bob Marley!

This was sent in by Breakfast viewer Joan Miller from Caithness

In response to questions from viewers Gavin revealed that the average summer's day fluffy cloud weighs "the same as 80 elephants".

Gavin's book, The Cloudspotter's Guide is available from bookshops.