driest Christmas since the 1940s.

Experts at the Bermuda Weather Service say 1998 figures reveal the driest two-month pre-Christmas period since 1949.

And climatologist Danny Hollis said the Island was desperate for a downpour to avoid a Christmas crisis.

Bermuda's water dealers are reporting record sales and are frantically making hundreds of deliveries to gasping residents every day.

But while the dealers are revelling in bumper business in the run-up to December 25, they are joining thousands of Bermudians to pray for heavy rain.

George Pitcher, manager of Bermuda's biggest dealers at Island Water, said: "It's crazy busy.

"We are currently going right through from 8 a.m. to one in the morning. We are delivering 90 to 100 loads a day.

"And even though it's excellent business, it's getting to the point where we are getting frustrated customers because we can't get to them. People are running out of water and people are having difficulties. That's why we are actually hoping for rain.

"If we can't meet the demands of customers and people are going without water, then it's not right.'' Mr. Pitcher said his Smith's Parish firm's six trucks were delivering an average of 70 loads a day.

Water shortage They do not have to rely on reservoirs, like the two million gallon tank at Southside, but use the reverse osmosis plant at John Barritt and Son's, which produces high quality water used to make soft drinks like Coca Cola.

Lucille Zuill, who runs Zuill's Water Service at Somerset Bridge, said her own books were also full up with orders.

"I've never known it to be this busy and I've been in the business for 25 years,'' she said.

And Cal White, manager of Cal White's Water Service in Hamilton Parish, described the current trade as "ridiculous''.

"We are getting between 50 and 60 calls every day,'' he said. "It has been busy like this on occasions before but never at this time of year.'' Judy Smith, supervisor at Bermuda Waterworks in Devonshire, said the firm was delivering between 200 and 300 loads of bottled water every day.

Even light periods of rainfall yesterday and on Tuesday only took December's total drip to 1.21 inches.

That is only just over a quarter of the average December rainfall of 4.58 inches.

And just 1.79 inches of rain were recorded in November, well below that month's average of 4.23 inches.

WEATHER WEA