Brits planning last minute winter sun exodus

Millions of British workers are planning to take a last minute winter sun holiday, according to new figures out today.

A study from Lastminute.com finds 71 per cent of British employees have more than half of their annual leave still to take.

More than a third of bookings (35 per cent) made through the website are due to depart in the last two weeks of the year, as workers use up the remainder of their holidays.

“The poor summer weather this year has left people desperate to experience sunnier climes before 2008," commented John Bevan, Lastminute UK managing director.

“Many workers have yet to take the bulk of their entitlement, so we are seeing people booking long holidays in their droves for the rest of the year.”

Londoners are the worst offenders when it comes to leaving using up their remaining holiday entitlement to the last minute, with 45 per cent planning to use their annual leave by the end of the year.

Around eight in ten holidays booked through Lastminute.com before the end of the year are set to depart from London area airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton.

By contrast, seven out of ten northerners have already used up all their annual leave.

Mr Bevan added: “Employers – especially those in London – face major staffing problems with more workers than ever desperate to get away before the end of the year.

"It’s well documented the British are among the hardest workers in the Europe so our advice is to take your holiday while you can."