So far the summer months have been a washout.

There was misery across Belfast and parts of counties Down and Antrim in June and July after torrential downpours led to flash flooding.

And there has been no sign of ice-cream and candyfloss in the region's seaside resorts with umbrellas and raincoats the order of the day instead.

In Newcastle on Wednesday, it was dry for a few hours in the afternoon and children at a local caravan park were making the most of it.

Families staying there say they just have to grin and bear it.

"It has been atrocious," caravan owner Jean Magee told UTV.

"It hasn't stopped raining constantly, I think we have had two good days the whole summer, but if you didn't come to the caravan we would be laying idle.

"I have always been down contently the whole summer I come winter and all if the caravan site is open, they let us so we can come down when we want and it's peaceful and quiet."

The wet summer is also affecting business at the caravan park.

Tanya Chambers said: "Summer time here before we would have been packed out from week to week in the caravan park but this summer for some reason - obviously the weather - people just don't want to come down.

"It's finding it hard with the children, what to do with them?

"If it's raining they are stuck inside the caravan whereas at home they have got their bedrooms to play in, they have all their games and toys at home and can't bring it down to the caravan so I think a lot of people have thought rain, why come down to the caravan?"

So while people in Newcastle try to enjoy what's left of their holidays, the burning question remains - is there sun in store for August?

John Wylie from the Met Office isn't so sure..

"There will be some fair weather interludes, of that there is no doubt," he explained.

"We get a few days here and there but if it is warm dry settled weather you are after, well I wouldn't hold my breath just yet!"