BOURNEMOUTH experienced the coldest night in the first half of September this century, a weather enthusiast has claimed.

Residents eagerly reached for larger coats and thick cardigans this morning as the temperature plummeted to just four degrees overnight at Hurn while Springbourne registered a slightly warmer 7.2.

Jim Smith, whose station is based in Springbourne, said it was all down to the cold air coming down from the polar ice caps.

"If you take the start of the century of the end of 2000, this is the coldest night for half of that time," Mr Smith said.

He said it is the coldest night he's registered in Springbourne for this time of year since coming from Wimborne in 2000.

Over the last few years night temperatures in September have been registered between 11-15 degrees.

Mr Smith said: "The weather pattern we have is a high pressure in the Atlantic, and low pressure to the East. The rule is, stand with your back to the wind, low to the left, high to the right. It's brought cold air in from the polar. This time of the year it's not that cold but the temperatures do feel that way. It's because of the cold clear air.

"This flow of cold air will get put off and the nights will warm up," Jim added. "Weather is just like a rollercoaster. It should be a bit warmer next week, back into the double figures, for the next 10 days or so."