Stunning Autumn

Reflecting on a stunning autumn as 20C days are predicted for this week... but watch out for 'blood rain' at Halloween due to red dust blown from the Sahara

The onset of autumn has transformed the foliage around the Lake District into a glorious patchwork of green, red and gold
Forecasters are predicting unseasonably warm weather next week thanks to a warm band of air from North Africa, but warned the mild conditions won't last, with snow on its way towards the end of the week
'Blood rain' also expected as band carries red Saharan dust

They say there is nowhere quite like New England in the fall.

But old England is giving the U.S. a run for its money this year, with the trees around the Lake District transformed by the changing season into a glorious tapestry of green, red, copper and gold.

And with forecasters predicting unseasonably warm weather on its way in the UK this week, conditions will be perfect for those hoping to get outdoors to take in the breathtaking autumn scenery.

Mother Nature's autumn show: Vistors to Studley Royal Water Garden, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, got a double delight as the spectacular golds, bronzes, purples and yellows of the leaves were mirrored in the lake

Mother Nature's autumn show: Visitors to Studley Royal Water Garden, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, got a double delight as the spectacular golds, bronzes, purples and yellows of the leaves were mirrored in the lake

Spectacular: Sailing boats bob on Derwentwater surrounded by russet coloured foliage

Spectacular: Sailing boats bob on Derwentwater surrounded by warm russet foliage

These spectacular pictures show how the leaves on the trees surrounding Derwentwater in the Lake District have deepened to warm russet hues, forming a stunning backdrop to the placid waters of the lake.

They show a picture-perfect autumn day for hikers and sailors in the area, and the Met Office has said temperatures could soar as high as 20C this week thanks to a wave of hot air from North Africa which is due to sweep through the UK from tomorrow.

Continuing this year's pattern of wacky weather, it could also bring 'blood rain' to our shores - rain carrying red dust from the Sahara desert.

'Season of mists': The shoreline around Derwentwater in the Lake District has been transformed into a glorious patchwork of autumnal colour

Autumnal scene: A walker captures the spectacular view across Derwentwater on camera

The always stunning scenery around the Lake District has been further enhanced with the onset of autumn

Peaceful: A boat chugs its way across the water of the lake towards the shoreline

Seasonal splendour: Derwentwater is surrounded on all sides by shades of green, russet, copper and gold

Conditions look pleasant for a sail across Derwentwater, as forecasters predict unseasonably warm weather ahead this week

Patchwork: The warm hues of the foliage form a spectacular backdrop to the boats sailing on the lake

Ethereal: Early-morning mist over the Wye Valley in Herefordshire today gives the autumnal landscape an ethereal quality

Golden leaves: A young family stroll past the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial Red Maple in Kew Gardens as it drops its leaves, which have mellowed to gold

The fabulous shades of autumn are visible across Britain; here a child plays with the leaves of an Acer tree in Arley, Cheshire

Morning fog: A cyclist rides through the fog amid golden leaves in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands

A jogger gets out and about in the early morning mist in Sutton Park in the West Midlands

Surrey's Kew Gardens are a riot of autumn colour

The lawns at Kew Gardens are carpeted with leaves of gold, russet and red this autumn

In Devon the arrival of autumn brought with it the traditional World Bolving championships, held on Exmoor over the weekend.

Bolving is the deep-throated unique to red deer stags during the rutting season.

The call is designed to frighten off other stags leaving the hinds - females - to the individual stag for mating.

Contestants in the World Bolving championships have to roar - or bolve - across a large valley in the hope of getting a stag to bolve back, which scores points with the judges.

Over one hundred and fifty nature lovers gathered at Draydon Rails to see the ninth annual contest in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.

Previous winner, Richard Eales, who now organises the event, said the contest started life as a bet among locals in the Rock Inn pub over who could get a stag to call back.

Last year's winner Elvis Afanasenko, who lives on the moor, retained his world champion title at the weekend.

Bolving was traditionally used across Europe to hunt deer who were a problem to farmers, but difficult to locate. A good call attracted the stags and made them easier to find.