Gloucestershire in pictures: Comets and misty mornings

An abstract photograph of a very dark sky, with misty white clouds smothering a canopy of trees. The branches are sparse and black in the low light. The trees fade into an indistinguishable mass.Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Annannarita
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Annannarita captured eerie mists at Coaley Peak near Stroud

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The nights drew in and the mornings turned colder in Gloucestershire during the first week after the clocks went back.

People donned their spookiest outfits to celebrate Halloween, Cirencester History Festival welcomed thousands of visitors and the county was flooded in the glorious golden hues of autumn leaves.

While after dark, Comet Lemmon was seen soaring across the night sky.

A canopy of yellow-leaved trees shroud a dimly-lit pathway through the forest. Either side of the path, red ferns curl over the hundreds of red and brown leaves littering the ground. Light filters through the canopy to illuminate a distant figure walking on the path.Image source, Rich Davis
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Rich Davis photographed the Forest of Dean awash with the fiery autumn colours

At this time of the year the countryside comes alive with an array of colours. Forest of Dean and Wye Valley has even appointed a "chief leaf peeper" to encourage visitors to make the most of the season.

A young woman with long straight purple hair and a pointed full fringe smiles, looking out of frame. She wears a black cardigan with orange pumpkins on it, a Scream film t-shirt and pumpkin earrings. Her sofa has a dark purple blanket covering it and the living room behind her is full of decorations.
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Marie Williams has spent years filling her home with Halloween-themed items

In Gloucester, Marie Williams describes herself as a "Pumpkin Queen", external, filling her house with spooky decorations all year round. She said she collects ghost and witch decorations, adding: "Halloween is my soul."

A black and white photograph of a smiling man standing in the open doorway of a vintage train carriage. He wears old-fashioned clothing like a traditional train conductor, including a flat cap, tie and woollen overcoat.Image source, Olivia Dale Studios
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Martin Rouse welcomed back a vintage railbus to Cirencester Town Station, 61 years after it last stood on the original platform

More than 2,500 visitors enjoyed the return of a vintage railbus to Cirencester Town Station, during the history festival's opening weekend. It originally operated on the Kemble branch lines, including services to Cirencester and Tetbury, until 1964. Martin Rouse was part of the team that worked to return the railbus to the station as part of the festival.

A photograph of a bright blue kingfisher perches on top of a wooden post. It's dark blue with a light blue streak running down it's body and an orange belly. Beneath the post, lily pads float on top of a river next to reeds sticking out. Image source, Jane Bicknell
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Jane Bicknell photographed an elusive kingfisher in Stonehouse

Kingfishers are widespread across the region but can be difficult to spot. Canals like Stroudwater Navigation provide a good hunting ground, with a plentiful supply of fish.

A portrait photo of the night-sky, light blue fading up into dark blue. The silhouette of black trees frame the bottom of the image. The sky is dotted with white stars, a larger one in the top-centre with a trail of light following above it. Image source, Fi Keates
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Comet Lemmon was photographed on an iPhone passing through South Cerney

Comet Lemmon has been lighting up the night sky across the country. The comet is at its closest point to Earth in 1,300 years, and will only be able to be spotted by eagle-eyed stargazers for a few more days.

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