Abstract. A meteor radar in the UK (near 52° N) has been used to measure the mean winds of the mesosphere/lower-thermosphere (MLT) region over the period 1988–2000. The seasonal course and interannual variability is characterised and comparisons are made with a number of models. Annual mean wind trends were found to be + 0.37 ms^-1 yr^-1 for the zonal component and + 0.157 ms^-1 yr^-1 for the meridional component. Seasonal means revealed significant trends in the case of meridional winds in spring ( + 0.38 ms^-1 yr^-1) and autumn ( + 0.29 ms^-1 yr^-1), and zonal winds in summer ( + 0.48 ms^-1 yr^-1) and autumn ( + 0.38 ms^-1 yr^-1). Significant correlation coefficients, R, between the sunspot number and seasonal mean wind are found in four instances. In the case of the summer zonal winds, R = + 0.732; for the winter meridional winds, R = - 0.677; for the winter zonal winds, R = - 0.472; and for the autumn zonal winds R = + 0.508.

Key words. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (climatology; general circulation; middle atmospheric dynamics)