UPDATE 12.50pm: A NEW downpour has hit Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, as residents and businesses count the cost of the weekend’s storms.

UPDATE 5pm: MELBOURNE was pounded by a massive thunderstorm this afternoon.

WITH supermarket giants promising a price war, consumer organisation Choice has urged shoppers to compare prices to find the best deals.

UPDATE 3.40pm: POWER has been restored to 400 customers, but 1100 are still without power in central and western Victoria.

UPDATE 4pm: MELTON South has already received 22mm of rain as storms hit the western suburbs.

AS Melbourne sweltered through blistering heat on Monday, residents flocked to public pools, businesses closed and power companies asked electricity users to go easy on the air conditioning.

MELBOURNE is leading the market in environmentally conscious designs.

IMPROPERLY installed Federal Government-funded insulation is putting lives at risk, fire investigators say.

UPDATE 3pm: TRAFFIC lights are out across Melbourne and cars are at a standstill in several areas as a cool change takes hold.

A SEVERE fire danger warning has again been issued for Melbourne, with temperatures predicted to hit 34C.

A SEVERE fire danger warning has issued for Melbourne, with the mercury set to push towards 40C in some outer-suburban areas today.

SCHOOLS, kindergartens, and childcare centres across Melbourne have been ordered to shut down on Code Red bushfire danger days.

UPDATE 3.40pm: FROM elegant to bizarre, punters have trotted out a variety of fashions at Flemington Racecourse today.

RACEGOERS are streaming into Flemington Racecourse despite predictions of gloomy skies and windy conditions.

PHILANTHROPIST Jeanne Pratt AC hosted a dinner for influential Australians at her Kew home this week to help spread awareness of Feed Melbourne.

THE Federal Government has been urged to better support community groups after a survey found they were feeling the heat of the economic crisis.

A QUIRKY picture of a curious chook has taken out first prize in our Royal Melbourne Show reader photo competition.

ONE in four people killed in accidental house fires in Melbourne since 2000 has been a “compulsive hoarder”.

LOOKING for something to do these school holidays? Here’s our guide to activities around Melbourne.

DIABETES has taken a hold on Victoria, with new figures showing an alarming increase in the number of hot spots across the state’s council areas.