Record numbers fly to sun

MORE PEOPLE are going abroad for their holidays than ever, a new survey has revealed - and it's little to do with the British weather.

As Britain kicked off its busiest travel weekend of the year, a survey by Mintel has shown that an estimated 20m people will escape to foreign destinations this year, an increase of five per cent on the previous year.

Improvements in the economy, the return of consumer confidence, favourable exchange rates, the falling cost of foreign holidays and flights, and the construction of the Channel Tunnel have all contributed to an unprecedented exodus, said the market research company. This weekend, Heathrow is predicting a record 764,000 passengers, while Gatwick is expecting some 328,000. Up to 250,000 people will be taking ferries or Le Shuttle services across the Channel.

An estimated 10 million holidaymakers began heading for the coast last night, and even though some roadworks have been lifted, the seaside exodus and events such as the Reading Festival mean that motoring organisations are warning of traffic problems.

The AA, for example, is deploying 50 special "trouble-shooter" patrols over the Bank Holiday. It expects to attend more than 38,000 vehicles during the break.

Major predicted troublespots include the M5 in Worcestershire, between Frankley services and Dudley, and at Bristol, between Avonmouth and the Gordano services. Other roadworks include the M62 between Junctions 28 and 29, the M20 in Kent between Ashford and Maidstone, and the M4 between Usk and Newport.

According to a survey by car window manufacturers Autoglass, roads will be littered with more than a million bits of rubbish from Britons bingeing their way through in-car feasts of crisps, chips and chocolate.

Weathermen were forecasting dry conditions over the first part of the weekend, with warm and sunny conditions for most areas on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday ,and temperatures up to (75f).

But at Gatwick yesterday, the dreary summer was the reason given by most travellers for taking a break outside the UK. "The weather has been terrible in England this summer, so ... we booked a week's sporting holiday in Lanzarote," said Claire Vaughn-Arbuckle and Louise Warrack from London.

"I'm going to get away from the anniversary of Princess Diana" said John Watts from Cheltenham on his way to Alicante. "I'm just sick of it."