Lager louts 'stay at home'

THE RECESSION is having one good effect - keeping lager louts away from foreign holiday resorts, according to a survey carried out for the Association of British Travel Agents, by Mori, the market research company.

In a 1990 study of people who complained about their holidays, 6 per cent blamed hooliganism, but in a survey for 1992 released yesterday, no one mentioned this.

Mike Grindrod, Abta president, said: 'Hooligans cannot afford to go away and if they do go, they cannot afford the beer. We also praise the local mayors in many holiday towns who have insisted on more sensible opening hours for bars and discos.'

Pickfords Travel reported demand up by more than 50 per cent on last year; top destinations were Spain and its islands and Greece.