CHRIS Brayshaw is the happiest man in Bolton. The terrible summer weather, far from depressing him, means a boost to the family business he runs in Bolton's Market Hall.

Sales at Umbrella World are rocketing - with hundreds of umbrellas flying off the shelves just as fast as the rain can come pouring from the sky.

This summer's deluge certainly does not depress 30-year-old Chris. "Business is booming," he admitted with a smile. "It's up around 25 per cent on last year and demand all round is amazing."

Best-sellers include brollies to co-ordinate with the summer's top fashion colours of pink and aqua (and, yes, British umbrella makers do put out an annual summer catalogue).

Then there are see-through dome umbrellas made by Fulton by Royal Appointment at £9.99, and brollies which are really mobile works of art with pictures by Old Masters at £27.

They even have children's animal brollies with ears and matching mac and wellies which are proving very popular with the back-to-school set.

"Some of our adult customers have been buying these brollies as well to cheer themselves up!" reported Chris.

Just to get the scene into perspective, he regularly sells umbrellas with bright sunflowers and other patterns to locals off on holiday abroad. "I was on holiday in Thailand a couple of years ago and, when I was going round a palace there, I saw one of our brollies protecting someone from the sunshine."

Sensibly, he also sells sunglasses. "Well, in this country, the weather's either so hot it's cracking the flags or the rain is belting down. You've got to hedge your bets."

And with more bad weather on the way, one thing is certain: the forecast for at least one local business is very bright indeed.