SCOTLAND is set for the hottest Indian Summer for 11 years – after one of the coldest Augusts for 30 years.

Yesterday saw gales pushing 50mph gusts, washouts and 20°C (68°F) highs in Scotland – as England enjoyed the hottest ever late August Bank Holiday.

English beach resorts celebrated the £2.5billion biggest-spending tourism weekend of the year.

But Scotland is set for a warm September, with highs of up to 26°C (79°F).

The Met Office expects warmer than average temperatures from August to October. Warm seas, high pressure and heat

from Europe will bring the autumn warmth, forecasters said.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “After a cooler midweek, the start of September from Friday looks like seeing temperatures improve.

“It will feel pleasantly warm in the sunshine. We are most likely to see changeable weather with rain and strong winds in the north and west of the UK. But there will be some dry and fine weather at times too.

“There is a chance of more settled weather from mid-September.”

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “26°C (79°F) highs would not be a surprise for Scotland in September.

“Forecast models show warm temperatures during the first half of autumn.”

Scotland has suffered one of its coldest Augusts for 30 years – with “abysmal” peak temperatures as just two days clawed above 21°C (70°F). The 24.1°C (75°F) maximum temperature in Scotland this month is colder than peak August temperatures in all but five years since 1987.