THE terrible summer weather has wrecked many our holiday highlights — but some businesses have received an unexpected boost.

In the first two weeks of August a month’s worth of rain fell in East Lancashire, while July saw almost double the normal amount.

This forced many of our festivals to be called off, including the Royal Lancs and Trawden Shows. Ice cream suppliers, campsites and garden centres were also hit.

But there have been winners, including chocolate and wellies suppliers, museums and indoor leisure facilities.

Eddie Cowpe, owner of Huntley’s farm shop, Samlesbury, said his award-winning ‘Moo 2 You’ ice cream had seen reductions in sales. He said: “It’s done very well in the past so the weather really is to blame.”

Pubs, already reeling from the smoking ban, have also been hit. Geoff Sutcliffe, of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, said: “Having to step outside for a smoke has put pressure on the weather to stay fine.”

Campsites have been struggling too. Keith Loveridge, boss of Dales and Vales which has sites across Lancashire, said trade was “completely dead”.

Old Dad’s Barn, a bed and breakfast and garden nursery, in Mellor, said sales had plummeted. Boss Richard Sowerbutt’s said: “The weather was to blame in 60 per cent of cases, but people are also cutting back because of the economy.”

Leading the winners was Blackburn’s Museum and Art Gallery with 1,000 extra visitors. Educational office Stephen Irwin, said: “This is a huge increase in visitors over a period of six weeks.”

Dale Winfield, boss of Haslingden-based store Winfields, said sales of wellies and waterproofs were doing well. “The increase was as dramatic as the weather itself.”

Vue Cinema reported a surge in visitors as did leisure facilities.

And we are consoling ourself with chocolate, according to Lisa Kennedy, boss of Coco Moyo, Waddington.

She said: “We have experienced consistency which we wouldn’t expect due to chocolate being unpopular during the warm months.”