BOLTON can look forward to an Indian summer -- according to a local leading weather expert.

Meteorologist Graham Fullarton, who has a weather station in the back garden of his Turton home, is predicting that September will be a sizzler.

He has been taking part in a national study to monitor Britain's climate and his findings show that there has been a massive 50 per cent increase in downpours in Bolton so far during the summer.

On June 14, the heavens opened across Bolton -- nicknamed "the great storm" by Mr Fullarton -- releasing 1 inches of water in an hour.

But Mr Fullarton insists there is hope on the weather horizon.

A September Indian summer is a classic pattern after such a wet and miserable British summer, he said.

Mr Fullarton, a data protection manager at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said: "So far Bolton has been two degrees below the average temperature expected in summer.

"This summer is 50 per cent wetter than normal. I take a measurement every day at 7.30am."

Mild, damp weather signals a rise in respiratory illness and experts believe that weathermen can predict outbreaks of illnesses months in advance, thus forewarning hospitals.

Mr Fullarton is in charge of putting statistics together in Bolton and has received guidance from the Department of Health to set up a project in time for winter.

A pilot project to give detailed forecasts to NHS Trusts is due to get under way soon.

Mr Fullarton said: "We should be able to set up a system fairly soon to predict illnesses and epidemics linked to weather conditions in Bolton."