ONE of the United Kingdom's most striking and widespread butterflies has experienced a record summer despite soggy weather conditions.

This year's Big Butterfly Count has revealed that the number of Red Admirals has increased by 75 per cent compared to 2016, with more than 73,000 seen during the three-week count.

The number is as many as were counted in the last three years of the Big Butterfly Count put together and the highest number by far for the butterfly since the project began.