If you've been struggling to get your hands on a cucumber or tomato recently, you're not alone.

Shoppers across Somerset could be facing weeks without some of their favourite foods as shortages of tomatoes, onions, peppers, lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, cauliflowers and cabbages hits the country,

All of the major supermarkets have been reporting supply issues this week.

At the same time, frost damage to home-grown British crops such as carrots, cabbages, parsnips and cauliflowers means many fields have been written off.

High energy prices – linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine – are also a factor because it has become more expensive to heat greenhouses.

Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium said: 'Difficult weather conditions in the south of Europe and northern Africa have disrupted harvest for some fruit and vegetables including tomatoes.

'However, supermarkets are adept at managing supply chain issues and are working with farmers to ensure that customers are able to access a wide range of fresh produce.'

In 2021, the World Health Organisation warned that more frequent extreme weather due to climate change will disrupt global food systems.

A report said the crisis could undo 50 years of progress in health and reducing poverty, with the impact on agriculture one of the main challenges.