SWINDON is likely to suffer food shortages in the future if nothing is done to curb climate change, campaigners claim.

The comments come after it was revealed the town could see an average temperature increase of more than 4C in the summer the year 2100.

The BBC teamed up with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to reveal the fates of cities across the UK in a best-case and a worst-case scenario.

Information gathered shows the difference between average temperatures in January and July of 1900 and what they could be in 2100, as well as the average for 2018.

The 2018 average temperature in Swindon was 4.5C in January and 17.1C in July. But the worst-case scenario, where emissions continue to be unregulated throughout the 21st century, will mean temperatures hit 7.9C in January and 21.6C in July.

Temperature rises across the world could mean that imported food supplies become dangerously low and more expensive.

John Ranford, a member of Extinction Rebellion’s Swindon branch, said: “A temperature rise of over 5C is simply unimaginable. It must not be contemplated. I could give specific facts but I don’t want to scare people, that is how bad it is.

“The climate will be bad way before 2100. In 18 months, if we are still in the same position it will be catastrophic. The people of Swindon will feel the effects first. Near-term, temperature rises in southern locations, places we call bread baskets will cause issues with farming and on food imports.

“We bring in corn from America and because of heavy rainfall they have only been able to plant 30 per cent of their usual crops, which will yield their lowest ever harvest. Fifty per cent of Swindon’s food is imported and these bread baskets could fail at any time.

“We are so dependent on these imports that if they fail we could be looking at a sharp rise on food prices which will only hurt the poorest of Swindon. Eighty years isn’t relevant, this needs to be stopped now before it is too late. All emissions need to be cut by 2025.”

Even with a best-case scenario where greenhouse emissions peak in the early part of the century and countries focus their efforts on a drastic reduction in what they produce, temperatures are predicted to be 5.3C in January and 17.9C in July.