WRAPPED up warmly in his woollen jumper and scarf, the Jolly Fisherman is one of the most famous symbols of the British seaside.

But, as the effects of global warming take hold, he could be swapping his sou'wester for a sunhat.

Celebrating the 160-year-old love affair between the railways and the seaside, the National Railway Museum, in York, is launching a series of events tracing the history of one of the nation's favourite pastimes.

From Monday until Friday, May 30, the museum's own Jolly Fisherman, Patrick Smith, will take visitors on an outing through the story of the railway and holiday revolution.

The fisherman was created for an advertising poster by artist John Hassall in the days when British resorts were valued almost as much for their blustery fresh air as for their beaches.

His poster, commissioned in 1908 by the Great Northern Railway, made the invigorating East Coast climate a trademark by including the words Skegness Is So Bracing.

However, if Met Office predictions prove correct, the next 50 years could see Skegness, Scarborough, Bridlington and other resorts basking in temperatures more familiar on the French Riviera.

Met Office spokesman Sean Clarke said: "In the 150 years since seaside holidays became popular, average temperatures in England have risen by about one degree.

"But by 2080, we could see them rise by as much as four degrees. If this is the case, the East Coast will almost certainly be less bracing, particularly in winter."

The museum's curator of pictorial collections, Beverley Cole, said: "If the climate changes dramatically in the future, a new 'Continental' Jolly may emerge."

The Jolly Fisherman tours last about 30 minutes and tickets cost £2. Admission to the museum is free.