The autumnal colours around Dymock this year surpassed those of New England, according to the Great Woodend weather watcher Tony Denby.

Mr Denby said his information came from far-travelled friends, who had seen both.

He added: "The autumnal colouring has been the best that I can remember."

Mr Denby said October had been relatively dry, the driest since 1992, and exceptionally cold, again only 1992 being colder.

The coldest night was when minus 2.4C on October 20.

Mr Denby said: "In our first ten months we had only two-thirds of our average rainfall, a shortfall of about eight inches. This does not bode well for water supplies next year, unless we have a very wet winter."