Double the normal amount of rainfall in July has been followed by deluges this month.

However, attraction bosses are optimistic visitors will continue to visit despite unpredictable weather forecasts.

A series of summer blockbusters has also meant audiences have been seeking shelter at the Odeon cinema in Kettering, with Mamma Mia! sold out every evening.

Wicksteed Park managing director John Roberts said: “It’s been a very good bank holiday weekend. We were extremely busy on Saturday and also busy on Sunday.

“It’s been pretty overcast but we remain upbeat. It could have been a washout with all the rain we’ve had in August. I’ve yet to check the long term forecast but all I can say is that we’ve been getting bigger numbers even with the overcast and rainy days. We can’t do anything about the British weather.”

He said the park was looking at providing more indoor and undercover activities for next year to attract people on poor days.

Brenda Bell, site service manager at Billing Aquadrome holiday park, near Northampton, said: “We’ve been fully booked for the Bank Holiday weekend. The weather dictates how many visitors we have, but with the credit crunch people are choosing not to go on holidays abroad and coming to places like ours.”

Simon Hopkins, marketing manager of the Odeon, said the success of Mammia Mia had created a buzz in the aisles.

He said: “I have never seen a film do this – it must be the magic of Abba.”

Last night the cinema even held a special dress-up sing-along evening where cinema-goers went in 1970s outfits or summer holiday clothes.

Bill Simon, of Stanion Road, Brigstock, said: “This summer seems to have been exceptionally wet. I’m an allotment holder and it’s been difficult to keep that under control.

“It’s also been a bad year so far for butterfly watching. The wind and the rain doesn’t help them at all.”

For the rest of this week, the weather looks fair with sunny spells and highs of 23 degrees centigrade. At the weekend, there is a risk of thundery weather spreading from the south.

Unsettled conditions are likely next week as low pressure returns, bringing outbreaks of rain or showers. There is even a chance of mini-tornados in the East Midlands.