Small plant/tree with bright red leaves

Thank you for your help ...poppy :-D

 

I'd say it looks like a perennial turning colour in autumn, but I have no idea what it is.

 

Nope - no idea here either. A mystery.

 

This is just a guess, but the leaves look like flameleaf sumac, a small understory tree. Could you tell us where (state, province, continent?) you found it, and under what conditions (out in the open, near larger trees, neighbor's yard?). It would help with the identification although your photo is good.

 

Place England, it was on the edge of a wood plantaion

 

Sorry Poppy, my tentative identification was wrong. The flameleaf isn't a European tree.

 

Have a look at this link: Chamerion angustifolium or Rosebay Willowherb

I've never noticed but the text claims it turns colour in autumn to yellow and red.

 

Droopy ive just been told its the
Fireweed, Great Willow-herb

 

Good!

I looked it up, and the quote below is from Wikipedia:

Epilobium angustifolium, commonly known as Fireweed (mainly in North America), Great Willow-herb (Canada), or Rosebay Willowherb (mainly in Britain).

The plant is abundant here, especially in forest clearings and by the roads, wherever there's an open space. The moose love them.