Country people are still using old wives' tales to predict the weather rather than relying on weathermen, a new survey suggests.

The poll, by the Dairy Farmers of Britain, found 70 per cent of those surveyed believe natural weather indicators - a red sky in the morning and cows lying down being the most popular.

Rural dwellers were found to be more likely to believe in such indicators (78 per cent) while urbanites appeared slightly more sceptical (61 per cent.) Among the most commonly held beliefs are that a red sky in the morning or cows lying down in fields mean bad weather is on the way.

Others include aching bones, cows lying close together, fog on the hills and rooks nesting low down in trees.

John Billingsley, folklore expert and former lecturer at Bradford University, said: "The sayings tend to vary according to the area. Generally speaking they are bits and pieces of observations which have taken place over the generations.

"There are some curious ones though, such as Candlemass which falls on February 2. The saying goes if Candlemass day is fair and bright winter will have another flight.' I have observed this over the last 15 years and found it to have been borne out.

"It is very similar to Groundhog Day in America and similar beliefs in China and Japan where they use February 1.

"Basically these sayings and beliefs are curiosities, we can't expect them to be 100 per cent true. Animals do tend to react to the environment and sheep and cattle will avoid trees when there is about to be a storm. These beliefs are folklore evolving from a cultural mindset."

A spokesman for the Met Office said that while some of the sayings had a grounding in truth, others were bunkum.

He said: "The saying about a red sky in the morning has a scientific basis. A red sky is caused by the rising sun reflecting off thick cloud, and that cloud will often lead to rain or stormy weather. This is not always the case, but there is some merit to it.

"As for cows lying down, some say they lie down to keep a dry patch when it is going to rain, but my father is a farmer and he says that's rubbish - they lie down when they are tired.

"There is also a saying about cows huddling together.

"Apparently they do this in wet weather, but they also do it when it's sunny, so it doesn't tell you much."