WEATHERMEN often come under fire over the accuracy of their forecasts.

But even the most fair-weathered meteorologist could not have got it wrong this week -- rain, rain and more rain. And the outlook for the Bank Holiday weekend . . . rain again.

Whether it was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, there was hardly a moment's peace from the daily deluge.

On Wednesday in particular, Bolton was drowning in rain as the heaven's opened, flooding many parts of the town and leaving the M60 looking more like a waterway than a motorway.

And the weather for this weekend -- officially marking the end of summer -- is equally depressing with showers forecast until Monday.

Yet thousands of people in Bolton are still setting off by road, rail and air for a great British Bank Holiday getaway.

Many are expected to make a beeline for the seaside. Only those lucky enough to have had the foresight of escaping abroad are likely to avoid spells of cloud and rain.

And in typical fashion, a Press Association WeatherCentre spokesman said that Tuesday -- when most people will be returning to work -- will be "glorious".

The forecaster said: "It will improve after the Bank Holiday weekend. Tuesday is looking glorious.

"I think August is going to end on a sunny day but it's come a little late for the holiday weekend."