Many UK gardeners may have written 2007 off as a bad year with record rainfalls in the summer months.

However, that may be a bit premature as the wet conditions may have actually led to one of the most stunning autumn displays in years.

Trees and shrubs across Britain have suddenly come alive with a riot of colour thanks largely to the wet summer and dry autumn.

"Conditions have been ideal," John Weir, director of the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, told the Independent.

"A wet summer and then a dry autumn - that is perfect in this country for bringing colour to trees and also means we have no mud and no puddles. This is going to be a first-rate autumn.

"'It is like a firework display. Over the next couple of weeks we expect thousands of visitors to arrive every day to see our trees at their autumnal best."

And according to Barry Gromett of the Met Office the wonderful display looks set to continue.

"There is nothing in the pipeline to blow away those golds and reds,' he told the paper.