With hay fever levels at their highest of the year so far, and expected to stay that way, sufferers have been sharing ways that they cope.

One mum in Midsomer Norton was hoping to try one of the options she had found on line, but first she needed a really local supplier.

She was told, and there is no specific evidence for this, but she was feeling it was worth a try, that a teaspoon of honey would help. But it HAD to be very local honey, no more than a few miles from where she lived.

Asking social media for answers is not always wise, but in this case they came up trumps. Somer Valley honey is literally as it says, from a few miles down the road, and it is stocked in Zen Rebel Studios, which took on the former gym premises on the steps up to Sainsbury's at The Hollies.

Suppliers of honey say that they have seen a up tick of sales in summer months and for hundreds of years, again with no direct evidence, people have believed that taking a little honey every day helps with hay fever. Many people swear that a teaspoon of local honey each day desensitises you to pollen and helps alleviate hay fever symptoms.

That seems to be somewhat of a myth since bees don't pollinate grass and trees, and the pollen in honey is the heavy, flower-based pollen that doesn't cause hay fever. That said honey has antioxidant and antibacterial properties, so it will boost your immune system AND of course it tastes nice.

With pollen counts predicted to stay high for the foreseeable future, it seems trying honey is the least worst option.

The Met Office forecast for the next five days for the South West, " Peak season for grass pollen, nettle, dock and plantain pollen. Plus : Fungal spores: Cladosporium and some Alternaria."