IPSWICH/SUFFOLK: As temperatures reach record highs, many people are bracing themselves for one last barbecue weekend of the summer.

The region is currently experiencing the hottest end to September since 1895 and temperatures hit an incredible 28.4C yesterday.

The Indian summer has led to people rethinking their weekend plans with many choosing to make the most of the July-like weather of the past week.

Lings Garden Store in Martlesham had put away most of its barbecues for the autumn but has restocked the shop floor after demand soared once again.

Assistant manager Paul Dalzell said the demand had picked up again last weekend and showed no sign of abating.

He said: “We did quite a lot of barbecues compared to the weekend before that. We are starting to sell them and other outdoor stuff again. It had all been packed away and put back into storage.”

The team at from Norwich-based experts Weatherquest said things could get even warmer today and the sunny spell was set to last until Monday.

Forecaster Steve Western said: “It’s all down to a patch of high pressure over central Europe and southerly winds are bringing up warm air from over Spain and Portugal.”

The 28.4C recorded yesterday at Mildenhall – the hottest reading anywhere in the country - is the highest on any September 29 since 1895, when the mercury peaked at 27.8C.