Bulba and I use New Horizon organic peat free compost and find it good, compost shouldn't go solid in the containers.

Part of the problem with static soil is if you live in a hard water area, when you water containers frequently, as one does in summer, the lime in the water gradually forms a calcified layer on the soil surface and just seems to toughen up the compost. In that situation if you can try to filter the water rather than filling the can up straight from the tap, or best of all use rainwater if you have a butt or can collect it somehow, the problem noticeably improves.

I live in a hard water area, try to fill the watering cans
and leave them to stand 10 days, when the lime disappears in the water = so I am told.

Lol Diane, think someone's been leading you up the garden path. Chlorine will be dispersed from water after a few days but "lime", won't.

Verve compost from B&Q has a very good write up by Gardening Which?

Its the old memory problem, should have written Chlorine.

I use Vitax Q4
I find it a very good compost.

Thank you for your advice I do use rainwater,perhaps its me probably think the compost isn't as good as it use to be.
Haven't seen Vitax Q4 compost do you buy it by mail order or can you get it at one of the superstores I use to make my own compost using Vitax Q4 fertiliser as the base but would prefer to just buy it ready made now.

I had it in a local garden centre last year. I don't know if you can get it in the big stores or mail order.

If you can't get Vitax, try and get Jacks Magic. That is sold in some garden centres, even Wilkinsons but they only do small bags unfortunately. Also, Clover multipurpose. That's peat based with no rubbish added. Don't try the big garden centres, go for smaller independent ones.
Failing that, good old John Innes.

You are right about compost not being what it used to be. Full of rubbish.

Thank you I will give some of your recommendations a try.

I adore Grow Sure's 'Seed and cutting' compost . . . it's gorgeous to handle, like velvet! But are you looking for a compost for growing seeds or for planting up containers??

Never tried Gro sure compost I like growing Fuchsias in my small greenhouse use to show them years ago and have never lost the interest in trying to grow different varieties to a show standard.
The compost I mainly use is for potting on but also grow some plants for the garden from seed and will give Gro sure a try thank you Sheilabub