It's February - and we got SAND.

High winds over Africa whipped up clouds of sand from the Sahara desert, and sent them billowing across northern Europe.

In Cheshire, the warmest February weekend on record heated the clouds so much that they dropped their load of sand and desert mud onto homes, gardens, and cars.

"Cheshire people have told us of deposits of sand in various interesting hues," said Margaret Emerson, a forecaster at London Weather Centre.

"The general trend seems to be red-brown and pink-orangey muck.

"There has been no danger of it clogging any vital systems in the area - although some industries have had to release statements denying all connection with the sand!"

But not everyone is grumbling.

The sandstorm provided a boom for car wash businesses, as motorists struggled to clean the Sahara desert off their cars.

"Figures at our car wash doubled over the weekend," said Mike Dowse, manager of Northwich Sainsbury's.

"I was the first one in and at 5pm on Sunday, we still had massive queues waiting to go through."

There was a similar situation at Imo car wash in Rudheath, where workers battled against lengthy lines of cars.

"We had a hundred more than normal, at least," said assistant Mark Taylor.

"It's been a very busy weekend."

Forecasters at the Met Office say the conditions are not expected to continue.

"It was a freak condition," added Margaret Emerson.

"But a colourful one."

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