Golden leaves, rutting stags locked in battle, and a bumper harvest of apples thanks to our washout summer: It must be the first day of autumn 

Head-to-head: These stags were captured with their horns locked in battle in Richmond Park, south west London 

A lacklustre summer has helped farmers at Little Peterstow Orchards, part of the Wye Fruit, produce a bumper harvest this year

The first rays of morning light rise over Saltburn pier on the first day of Autumn, which is known as the Autumn Equinox

Battle lines drawn: October and early November are traditionally the months when stags lock antlers to compete for mating rights with the females

Despite these glorious scenes in Richmond Park, weathermen say we should not expect an Indian Summer this year

The perfect dawn breaks over a misty, tree lined River Eden near Penrith in Cumbria this morning on the Autumn Equinox, where the sun lines up with the Earth's equator giving equal hours of daylight to the North and Southern Hemispheres

Close up: Dawn and dusk are generally the best time to see the stags clash with one another, with woodlands and country estates considered the best places to watch safely from a distance

Forecasters are predicting a slow improvement in the weather as we head towards the weekend, which will be mostly dry

he perfect dawn breaks over a misty, tree lined River Eden near Penrith in Cumbria this morning

Changing season: The leaves on the trees are beginning to turn a shade of golden brown Pictured: A fallen leaf in Richmond Park

Meteorologists predicts that the weather will begin to slowly improve as we begin to head towards the weekend when much of the country will be fine and dry. Pictured: Richmond Park, south west London 

The first rays of morning light rise over Huntcliff on the first day of Autumn. An equinox occurs when the sun is directly over the equator and the north and south poles of the Earth are not tilted towards or away from the sun, but are aligned giving the same amount of daylight in both of the hemispheres

On the first official day of Autumn, the Autumn Equinox, the sun casts a golden glow over Durham Cathedral as the leaves start to turn orange in the city

A Durham University student walks through an autumnal scene with bright orange leaves as he makes his way towards the campus on the first official day of autumn in Durham

Wisps of mist gather around the majestic Longleat House in Wiltshire as the first day of Autumn breaks

Infrared machines scan the apples at the factory in Ledbury. The apple industry is experiencing its biggest harvest in 20 years.

A woman is also seen examining the apples as they make there way through the Wye Fruit Factory in Ledbury

As the trees begin to turn brown for the winter this diesel train makes its way through the North Yorkshire Moors

Beautiful Autumn scenes in the Derbyshire peak district shows a tree, which is already donning its seasonal colours, in the misty skyline

Three swans go for a swim in the morning sunrise in Leeds, West Yorkshire

Druids and pagans, some in fancy dress,  gathered at Stonehenge at dawn for the Autumn Equinox celebrations

Dawn breaking at Stonehenge in Wiltshire. Members of the public were allowed access to the ancient site today 

The Autumn Equinox is one of only four days each year when members of the public are allowed to walk among the ancient stones

Despite much of the country expected to experience spots of rain, it was a bright and sunny morning in Ivinghoe, Beacon

This is the stunning autumn sunrise enjoyed by a couple in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, this morning

Wearing hats and coats this couple were ready for the seasonal weather as they took in the views from the top of Peak Hill, Sidmouth, Devon

The beach in Sidmouth, Devon, was empty today despite the sun shining and the surf appearing to be calm 

Deer in Richmond Park, London, as mixed conditions and colder nights are in store for Britain following the arrival of the autumn equinox