LAST month was one of the warmest Septembers on record, according to Durham University meteorologists.

Professor Tim Burt, of the university's geography department, said apart from 1999, it was the warmest September since 1981, and the 20th equal warmest since 1852.

It continued the trend from what proved to be among the hottest Augusts recorded by the university observatory, off Potters Bank, in Durham.

Prof Burt said: "September was another warm month, above average mainly because of higher than normal daytime temperatures."

He said the average daily temperature maximum, of 18.3C, was 1.6 degrees above the September average.

The hottest temperature, 24C, was recorded on Thursday September 18, with the minimum, 3.2C, six days later.

Rainfall totalled 24 millimetres, 31.6mm less than average, almost half of which fell on Sunday, September 21.

It was well below average, despite 10.4mm on September 21.

"Long-term totals remain well below average, especially for the six-month total, which ranks 44ft lowest since 1850," said Prof Burt.

The average daily sunshine was 4.3 hours and there were only two entirely sun-free days. The total sunshine this year reached 1,252.1 hours by the end of September, 127.6 up on normal.