IT might as well rain until September, I said, in a musical reference to the bad weather. And even then, they would probably still have drought conditions down south.

But hold on. I said Helen Shapiro sang the song and, as swift as a cloudburst in April, two readers took me to task.

“I would have thought, as a one-time music columnist of the Examiner you would have known that the song It Might As Well Rain Until September was written and recorded by Carole King (pictured left), not Helen Shapiro,” said Philip Jenkinson, of Crosland Moor.

And Colin Bateson, who wrote from “the bad weather capital of Yorkshire, known locally as Hade Edge,” added, tongue-in-cheek: “I always thought you knew what you were talking about.

“Everyone knows it was written and performed by the legendary Carole King, not Helen Shapiro.

“Perhaps you have got a leaky head and the rain’s got in and affected your brain. Don’t worry, there are many of us close behind. Keep up the good work.”

So I have been properly chastised, and for what? Trying to be British. True, Carole King is famous for the song, but Helen Shapiro also recorded it and, coming from Bethnal Green, knew more about rain than any American.

At least, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.