JULY had 10 times more rain than last summer's record-breaking scorcher.

We bathed in unprecedented heat a year ago - we splashed in puddles this year.

Cheshire had 17mm of rainfall last July. This year it was 123mm up to July 22 alone, according to the Met Office. The average for the month is 57 mm.

Warrington Cricket Club said one team had four consecutive matches cancelled. Mike Cornelia, the club press officer, said two was the previous record.

"It's been water on water. We never had time to dry the pitch out," said Mr Cornelia.

"I've had to inspect the pitch in my wellies. The outfield got boggy and there was a risk of people sliding and cutting up the pitch."

A spokesman for Warrington Wolves said there had been no problems this year with the new pitch. Last year the sunshine left it scorched.

Warrington Market traders were protesting last year, asking for fans to dispel the heat. This July the only demonstration was from youths in Sankey Bridges redirecting traffic round a 70 yard puddle blocking Liverpool Road.

Temperatures have been down by a degree and a half on last year but temperatures at night were fairly stable.

Surprisingly sunshine was only down from 110 hours to 96 hours. The good news is that better weather seems to be on the way.

A Met Office spokesman said: "It looks as a though there will be a change. It seems the pattern of this run of cold north westerly winds will finish.

"It seems there will be more sustained periods of still weather with some sunshine.

"There's a promise of better weather ahead - although you could hardly say it could get much worse."

Last July had the hottest ever combined night and day average temperatures since comprehensive records began in 1914. sbailey@guardiangrp.co.uk