When the cows lie down, it's going to rain. Believe it or not, more than 60pc of us believe the old adage.

And more than 75pc of us use folklore to predict the weather, according to a new survey.

But the old sayings are a mixed bag when it comes to accuracy, according to the Met Office.

Some 83pc of us agree with the sheep farming fraternity when it comes to red sky at night. And forecasters say they're generally right.

'This is because high pressure tends to lead to good weather,' says the Met Office.

'High pressure traps dust and dirt in the air, which scatters blue light, only leaving the red light remaining – hence the reddish appearance of the sky.' So that's one up to the shepherds. But while 61pc of us believe that cows lie down before it rains, the Met Office isn't so sure.

It says: 'Cows lie down for a number of reasons – including just having a rest – and there is no evidence to suggest it is related to the likelihood of rain.'

Around a third of us believe if it rains before 7am, it'll be fine by 11am. It might sound daft, but it's a goer when it comes to the likely longevity of a spell of precipitation.

'Weather systems in the UK are often spawned in the Atlantic, and these systems can sweep across the UK very quickly,' say the experts. 'So on many occasions, four hours will allow enough time for the rain to pass.'