Gardener Chris Clennett is convinced winter has come early in Sussex after he discovered his witch hazel bushes settling in for the change in seasons - four months before they were due.

He believes his bushes, which form part of a winter garden display, have become confused due to climate change.

The plants usually flower in January or February after shedding their leaves.

But Mr Clennett has noticed distinctive yellow flowers have already appeared in the gardens for which he cares.

He said: "At first I saw the odd flower, which is possible. But then when more and more started to appear I just couldn't believe it.

"The plants seem a bit confused by the weather at the moment. A change in temperature can sometimes trigger plants into flowering early.

"When we had some colder nights a few weeks ago it must have affected them. I have never seen witch hazel flower this early before."

Mr Clennett, a manager at the public gardens at Wakehurst Place in Ardingly, said he noticed the start of the yellow flowers on the Hamamelis Intermedia Diane and the Hamamelis Pallida at the end of August.

The Diane was especially strange, as this cross-breed usually produces red, not yellow, flowers in the winter.

The early blooms seem to be solely a Sussex phenomenon.

They are not in evidence at Kew Gardens, Wakehurst Place's sister garden in London.

Mr Clennett said: "We usually expect these plants to give us a spectacular display through the months of January and February.

"But the climate and weather of the last few years have been so odd plants aren't behaving the way they normally do."

Staff at the 500-acre estate have been left wondering if the early blooms mean no witch hazel flowers will be left to cheer up the winter months.

The clusters of yellow flowers, which appear on branches when the shrubs are bare in winter, are a main feature in its Winter Gardens display.

Mr Clennett, who has worked at Wakehurst Place for 15 years, said: "It's very worrying they have started so soon."