LIVERPOOL’S sporting events were thrown into chaos yesterday as the heavens opened – for most of the day.

Play was cancelled at Aigburth Cricket Club, where Lancashire were set to face the opening day of their County Championship clash with Hampshire.

And, over in Calderstones Park, a break in heavy downpours only saw 25 minutes of play at Liverpool’s International Tennis Tournament.

The opening day of play left spectators braving the wind and the rain from 11am before the window of play between 4-4.25pm where 15-year-old star Michelle Larcher De Brito took to the court.

Tournament referee Alan Mills officially cancelled play for the rest of the day due to heavy rain and poor light.

Anyone with tickets will get a full refund, minus booking fees, under the rain insurance policy.

But tournament director Anders Borg said the players were used to bad weather and morale was still high.

Speaking last night, he said: “We had to call things off at 6pm, not only because of the rain but also the soggy ground of the stadium.

“It was dangerous for the public and was too wet to play and we only managed 25 minutes.”