HOLIDAY parks in Dorset and Hampshire are set to reap the rewards as many cash-strapped families abandon their plans to jet off for summer breaks.

Millions of holidays and flights are still unsold with sky-high fuel surcharges and airport taxes putting foreign holidays beyond the reach of many who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Instead of flying to far-off shores, hard-pressed families are choosing to holiday at home and business is booming at Britain’s holiday camps.

Dorset-based Hoburne Holiday Parks which has parks in Dorset, Hampshire, Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and the Cotswolds has turned over the same number of bookings in the past six months as during the whole of last year.

Chairman Rosie Kennar told the Daily Echo: “Families are discovering that breaks away in the UK do not have to be the poor relatives of the holiday world – far from it.

“This country has fantastic beaches, a fascinating history and glorious countryside.

“We are almost fully booked for the peak summer holiday period.

“It’s been an amazing year and it’s only the start of July.”

Jacquie Olive, manager at Swanage Bay View Holiday Park, said: “Bookings are very last minute, we took 20 last week and 16 of them were for July.

“People are leaving it as late as possible to book, it appears that they are waiting to see if they still have money in the bank and still have a job.

“With so much uncertainty, I think families are unwilling to pay a big deposit for a foreign holiday in advance and are holding out in the hope that they can get a better deal.

“But they could miss the boat – we are already fully booked during Swanage carnival and for the following week in August.”