Hague is left in charge during the holidays

William Hague will be running the country from today as David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg join thousands of Britons in taking their holidays after the Olympics.

Mr Hague, the Foreign Secretary, is the most senior minister left in Britain. Details of where the Camerons will be staying have not been released.

Mr Clegg will spend two weeks in Spain with the parents of his Spanish wife, Miriam. Travel operators said they had seen a "massive upswing" in bookings for the period between the Olympics Closing Ceremony and the start of the Paralympics on 29 August.