The Met Office has chosen WaterAid to be its charity partner until 2015.

The Met Office received over 30 applications to be considered as the Met Office corporate charity, which was whittled down to a shortlist of three. The three shortlisted charities were ShelterBox,  WaterAid and Computer Aid International.

An online vote took place and WaterAid won half of all votes cast.

Rob Varley, operations and services director at the Met Office, said: "We're really pleased to be supporting WaterAid as our chosen charity. Access to clean water is something we take for granted in the UK, so it's very encouraging that Met Office employees want to make a difference for the one in eight people around the world who don't share this luxury."

The Met Office says it will be looking for new ways for its 1,800 staff to get behind the charity. For example, a sharing table was introduced, which has seen staff leaving any excess fruit, vegetables and books for anyone to take in return for a donation to our corporate charity. It has raised nearly £500 in its first month.