Resorts packed as the caravan booms

Slow-moving caravans may be cursed by drivers heading home after the bank holiday today but they are enjoying a "spectacular'' surge in popularity among enthusiasts.

As resorts across the country enjoyed a much-needed boost during the last long summer weekend, the Caravan Club said it was on target to enrol almost 50,000 new members this year.

Alan Bishop, director general of the National Caravan Council, said: "There has been an incredible surge in interest. There will be a lot of caravans out there this weekend."

Caravan sales, which have suffered a drastic decline in the past 30 years, are now increasing by 7 per cent a year.

Thanks to a late summer burst of sunshine, roads to seaside resorts were jammed over the weekend. Brighton beach was packed with trippers taking advantage of fine weather before the predicted showers. Seafront traders struggled to meet demand for ice cream and cold drinks as temperatures reached 75F (24C).

Another East Sussex resort, Hastings, became the first town in Britain to produce its own brand of sun tan lotion, giving away more than 1,000 bottles of Harbour Arm factor 25 in a campaign to encourage safe sunbathing.

At least one million people were expected to fly abroad with a further 350,000 travelling to the Continent via the Channel Tunnel or by ferry.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research reported that £500m would be spent on DIY, food and alcohol over the three-day break.

Most of Britain is expected to be dry and cloudy today.