Stunning shades of autumn: Unseasonably warm weather brings out best of Britain

By Hugo Gye

Last updated at 8:49 PM on 30th October 2011

These pictures show the British countryside at its best, as the autumn brings out the trees in an impressive burst of warm colours.

And this weekend's mini-heatwave has enabled people around the country to make the most of the spectacular sights.

The end of British Summer Time this morning also seems to have brought some amazingly vivid sunrises to those up early enough to catch them.

Spectacular scene: An explosion of colour from this foliage on the Yorkshire Dales dwarfs the two people standing on the bridge

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Dramatic: A burst of autumnal hue at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park makes a stunning backdrop for these weekend walkers at Butser Hill near Petersfield in Hampshire

As one of the warmest Octobers on record draws to a close, the balmy weather is set to continue throughout the week, with temperatures of up to 64F (18C).

Although October began with a burst of extraordinarily warm weather, a lack of sunshine and extensive cloud cover has kept temperatures from hitting record highs.

However, the month has been unusually mild, with minimum temperatures often hovering around 55F (13C), compared to usual minimum temperatures of 46F (8C).

Spectacular landscape: The disused Lamble viaduct in the South Tyne Valley rising up against the amazing landscape of Hag Wood

Last of the summer time: This amazing late sunrise was snapped neat Bowes in County Durham yesterday morning

Standing out: Barnard Castle in County Durham stands proud against the rising sun on the last day of British Summer Time

Current figures have the month as the seventh warmest October since records began, and with unseasonably warm nights across the south-east it could sneak in to the top five.

These conditions will continue into the start of November, with little sunshine but no prospect of extreme weather conditions this week - a major boon for those celebrating Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night.

And fans of the old tradition of apple bobbing, which is often popular at this time of year, will be delighted by news that scientists have discovered the perfect bobbing apple.

Researchers claim that Zari apples are just the right size and shape to be picked out of water without using hands - and this week were testing the theory with a mass bobbing event in London's Bloomsbury Square.