Millions of people awoke to find their central heating had come back on as August ended with record-breaking low temperatures.

The mercury plunged to down to -2.4C (27.7F) in Braemar and 2.1C (35. Benson, Oxfordshire on Thursday night, breaking regional records.

The coldest ever night for the month was 21st August 1973 when -4.5C (23.9f) was recorded in Lagganlia in the Highlands.

Gemma Stokes at National Grid said there was a rise in demand - possibly from people turning on their heating.

"Domestic gas demand was around 20% higher yesterday than it was last Thursday, although it’s hard to say whether this was because people turned their heating on or whether many people were still on holiday last week. Either way, there was an increase and I for one, put my heating on yesterday!”

A cold wind blowing in from the north ended the wettest summer in 100 years with chill temperatures and even tornadoes. During June, July and August there was 366.8mm of rain across the UK this summer, second only to 1912 when there was 384.4 mm rainfall

However the weather will warm over the weekend to bring a dry, fine start to autumn.

With the wind changing direction and coming in from the south west, temperatures will warm up to reach 23C (73.4F).

The Met Office said Saturday will be dry with some sunshine in southern parts and temperatures up to 23C in the south and 21C (69. in the north.

On Sunday it will be cloudier but still warm, with the chance of light rain across the south.

On Monday a high pressure front will start to move across the whole of the UK bringing warm dry weather for the whole week and temperatures up to 24C (75.2).

After the wettest summer since 1912 and the chill end to August, the Met Office said September will be warmer than usual, especially in the south.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/9511509/Heating-back-on-as-record-cold-night-ends-wettest-summer.html