SUMMER'S warmth and sunshine might feel like a distant memory, but it is having a spectacular legacy in autumn's leaves.

The soaring temperatures and lack of wind during the summer will make the leaves more vibrant, but the lack of rain in the county will shorten their life expectancy according to David Feaver, head of horticulture at Pershore Group of Colleges..

During the spring and summer chlorophyll, which gives the leaves their green colour, turns sunlight into energy, which is stored as sugar.

As winter rolls in, this process - called photosynthesis - slows, the leaves stop producing the green chlorophyll and other pigments are revealed.

The fiery red of the leaves comes from the pigment anthocyanin and the yellowish orange comes from carotene, the pigment that gives carrots their colour.

"The record-breaking heat of the summer will make leaves more colourful than usual," said Mr Feaver.

"Photosynthesis is increased in high sunlight and what tends to happen is the leaves store more sugar which makes them more colourful," he said.

"It will be a spectacular show but it's going to be short-lived.

"Worcestershire has been in a rain shadow. Without the rain, the leaves become brittle and will fall, especially when the wind picks up."

Falling temperatures and the first frost spur on the colour turning process.

"The third week in October is usually the best time to view the autumn colour," he added.

Among his recommended places to see the colours are the Countryside Centre at Spetchley, the A46 between Evesham to Alcester, Batsford Arboretum near Moreton-in-Marsh and Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury.