AS BERKSHIRE basks in the glorious sunshine, university researchers have declared Reading's hottest September day in more than 100 years.

The University of Reading’s weather observers have found that September 9 was the hottest September day in more than a century, with temperatures rising to 31.4 degrees in recent days.

Dr Stephen Burt, of the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology, summarises the findings as follows:

“September 9 was the hottest day of the year, surpassing 30.9 degrees recorded on June 10".

Based on the university’s records, which date back to 1908, this is also "the latest day in the year to have become the hottest", the previous being in 1929 when 31.2 degrees was recorded on September 4.

"In over 100 years recorded, only two other days have occurred in September as the hottest day of the year".

The expert added: "September 9 was the hottest September day on the university's records since 31.7 °C was recorded on September 8, 1911". That record was made at the slightly warmer London Road site, and had records still been made there, "the 1911 record would almost certainly have been surpassed".

“Within 100 years, only twice has temperature spells reaching at least 29 degrees every day have lasted longer than last week’s 6-day heatwave. Those were in June-July 1976 and August 2003. The longest on our records was 16 days in June/July 1976, the highest temperature reached was 34 degrees".

This news comes as Reading emerges out of the weekend heatwave, and is expected to see forecasts of clouds and light showers this coming week with temperatures ranging between 20C to 24C.

Dr Stephen Burt said: "Last week’s nights were also at near-record levels in terms of warmth, with the warmest nights being September 7 and September 11".

Temperatures fell no lower than 17.5 degrees, and "only two September nights have been warmer since records commenced at the Whiteknights Atmospheric Observatory site in 1968", the highest being 18.0 °C on September 5, 2006.

“The high temperatures we exacerbated by very light winds and very high dew points, which in turn made the heat feel oppressively humid."