Big freeze pushes sales of swimwear through the roof

It might be freezing outside but sales of swimwear have more than doubled in the past few weeks as Britons try to escape the cold snap by booking last-minute getaways to the sun.

Debenhams (www.debenhams.co.uk) said sales of swimwear had risen more than sales of thermal underwear and fake fur coats.

According to the department store, sales of faux-fur coats were up just over 20 per cent year on year, sales of thermals were up 14 per cent - but swimwear sales were up 125 per cent.

As temperatures in the UK are unlikely to rise much above freezing for the next few days, Britons are looking to escape to warmer places.

They are being lured with discounts from most of the top tour operators and travel agencies including lastminute.com, which is advertising week in Tenerife in a three-star hotel from just £283 per person, leaving on Saturday.

Cheaper travel insurance for holidaymakers who book at the last minute is available from insurewithease.com. Premiums are lower than for those who book in advance because cancellation cover is excluded.

Operators are also hoping the cold weather will encourage holidaymakers to start thinking about booking summer trips early. Thomson (www.thomson.co.uk) is offering up to £200 off brochure prices for early bookers and a further 10 per cent discount to those who book online.

Thomson's packages start at £113 per person based on four sharing an apartment in Majorca for a week in May

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