CHESHIRE has enjoyed the driest September since records began in 1910, with exceptionally low rainfall, according to figures from the Met Office.

The month is also likely to finish in the top five warmest, with UK temperatures significantly above average.

The UK as a whole has received 19.4mm (0.8in) of rain, just 20% of the normal amount of rainfall which would be expected for the month.

Before this one, the driest September on record was 1959 with 23.8mm (0.9in).

This September follows on from the eighth wettest August on record and comes in a generally very wet year - this January to August is the wettest such period in the records, mainly as a result of the very wet start to the year and the wettest winter on record.

This means water levels remain sufficient. Trevor Bishop, Environment Agency deputy director of water resources, said: "Following the wettest January to August on record, water resources in England are around normal for the time of year.

"We also look ahead by modelling how rivers and groundwater may respond to different future rainfall patterns. The results show a broadly positive picture and even if rainfall is below average this autumn the country will not go into drought."

Sunshine amounts have been closer to average, with 94% of what would normally be expected across the UK.

The dry and warm conditions have been caused by high pressure dominating the weather for much of the month.

This tends to block more unsettled weather heading in off the Atlantic, leaving the UK fine, dry and fairly sunny.

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