WE haven't had a September like it for 277 years.

Last month, which ended on Saturday, was the warmest since 1729, meteorologists revealed.

The average temperature was 16.6C - 2.9C above the average for September. Last September's average was 15.1C.

Amateur meteorologist David Hardaker, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, confirmed the North-East was unusually warm last month.

He said: "Looking back over my records, the previous warmest September was in 1981, which was 13.7C.

"This month's average is 15.4C, and that is close to the July average."

Mr Hardaker, who has kept records for more than 30 years, said: "One of the things behind it is hurricanes. There have been two or three remnants of hurricanes going past in September and what they've done is suck up very warm air from the south.

"It doesn't necessarily mean we'll have a mild winter - the mild September in 1981 was followed by a very cold winter."

Experts said the temperatures were due to warm air from North Africa.

"Our records go back to 1659, when the thermometer had just been invented," a spokesman for MeteorGroup UK said.

"The temperature this September was warmer than any since 1729. The warmest this century was in 1949, when the average was 16.3C.

"We had a lot of warm air blowing from North Africa, and across Europe, rather than from across the Atlantic.

"We've also had five per cent more rain."

September's temperatures are more evidence of global warming, the spokesman said - especially as July was the hottest month since records began.

"You can't prove or disprove global warming with local records," he said.

"But it does provide further evidence the world is heating up - if any were needed."

This week's temperatures are expected to be no higher than 14C, due to increased north-west winds.