weather last night.

The annual carol singing on the Cabinet Office lawn was called off because organisers feared more showers.

And the annual Santa Parade which was postponed halfway round its route on Sunday will not resume this coming weekend.

The carol singing, which attracts hundreds of families to the Cabinet Office each year, was cancelled yesterday afternoon.

Cabinet Office spokesperson Mrs. Joan Williams said the organisers had contacted the US Navy Weather Station and received reports of continuing showers for last night.

Mrs. Williams said: "They were told that there would be more squally showers which would have been unpleasant for the children taking part.

"We did not want a situation where the children were running to shelter from the rain because there was no cover provided.'' The Jaycees' Santa Parade has finally been cancelled after it was hit by a thunderstorm last Sunday.

The parade with Santa Claus, representatives of local churches and a number of dance troupes had reached Front Street when it started to pour with rain.

Families huddled together in shop doorways as thunder and lightning added to the spectacular downpour.

At the time the Jaycees were considering restarting the parade next Sunday but they have now decided to scrap it completely this year.

A spokesperson said that, because the parade was already underway, the Police bill would have had to be paid twice. The organisational problems had also contributed to their decision to cancel.

"There are always a number of events at schools and nurseries over the weekend before Christmas and there is a concert in Victoria Park at the same time,'' she added.

"With all of this it would be difficult to get everyone together to start the parade again.'' The parade had gone hi-tech this year with a radio system linked to Santa's "sled'' so that he could surprise the children by calling them by their names as he rode past.

However, children will still get a chance to see Santa during a smaller parade which has been organised by the Chamber of Commerce and the MarketPlace. It will take place in Hamilton on Friday, beginning at 6 p.m.