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UK snow: Weather prompts escape to foreign shores UK snow: Weather prompts escape to foreign shores
(about 1 hour later)
There has been a surge in the number of Britons heading abroad for Easter as they seek to escape the freezing and snowy weather, tourism operators say.There has been a surge in the number of Britons heading abroad for Easter as they seek to escape the freezing and snowy weather, tourism operators say.
The Association of British Travel Agents said there was "strong demand" for last-minute overseas holidays.The Association of British Travel Agents said there was "strong demand" for last-minute overseas holidays.
It comes as thousands of homes remain without power in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales following snow storms that began last Friday.It comes as thousands of homes remain without power in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales following snow storms that began last Friday.
The Met Office said further snow was expected in some parts this week.The Met Office said further snow was expected in some parts this week.
It said snow showers would continue to affect parts of central and eastern Scotland, south-eastern areas of Northern Ireland, north-east England and the north-east Midlands into Wednesday.It said snow showers would continue to affect parts of central and eastern Scotland, south-eastern areas of Northern Ireland, north-east England and the north-east Midlands into Wednesday.
'Sunshine destinations''Sunshine destinations'
With the four-day break over Easter approaching, travel agents said the unseasonably cold weather was turning Britons towards foreign shores.With the four-day break over Easter approaching, travel agents said the unseasonably cold weather was turning Britons towards foreign shores.
The Association of British Travel Agents' Sean Tipton told the BBC its members were reporting "very strong demand for last-minute overseas holiday deals as customers look to escape the freezing temperatures in the UK".The Association of British Travel Agents' Sean Tipton told the BBC its members were reporting "very strong demand for last-minute overseas holiday deals as customers look to escape the freezing temperatures in the UK".
"Some members are reporting over 50% increases in demand year on year for certain sunshine destinations," he said."Some members are reporting over 50% increases in demand year on year for certain sunshine destinations," he said.
Mr Tipton said bookings for trips within the UK remained relatively "healthy", as city breaks were often less dependent on the weather. Mr Tipton said bookings for trips within the UK remained relatively "healthy", as city breaks were less dependent on the weather.
However, he added that "last-minute bookings for camping holidays will have been adversely affected" by the cold weather. But he added "last-minute bookings for camping holidays will have been adversely affected" by the cold weather.
Airports said the Easter period would be especially busy this year, with millions of travellers flying out of Britain to international destinations.Airports said the Easter period would be especially busy this year, with millions of travellers flying out of Britain to international destinations.
Heathrow said it was preparing for its "busiest seven days of the year so far, with 1.2 million passengers expected to hop through Heathrow" between Thursday and next Tuesday. Heathrow said it was preparing for its "busiest seven days of the year so far, with 1.2 million passengers expected to hop through Heathrow" between Thursday and next Tuesday - up from 1.1 during Easter 2012.
And a spokesman for Stansted Airport, in Essex, said that while it was hard to compare Easters - which fall on different dates each year - the airport was "expecting to be busier than the same time last year". And a spokesman for Stansted Airport, in Essex, said that while it was hard to compare Easters - which fall on different dates every year - the airport was "expecting to be busier than the same time last year".
"There will be 220,000 passengers departing and arriving from Friday to Monday," he said."There will be 220,000 passengers departing and arriving from Friday to Monday," he said.
David Weston, chief executive of the Bed and Breakfast Association, said the weather was affecting the number of visitors to small accommodation in the UK.David Weston, chief executive of the Bed and Breakfast Association, said the weather was affecting the number of visitors to small accommodation in the UK.
"The main problem is last-minute cancellations. People are worried about the weather, or they see the weather is bad in their part of the world, so they call and cancel," he said."The main problem is last-minute cancellations. People are worried about the weather, or they see the weather is bad in their part of the world, so they call and cancel," he said.
"The B&B is left with several days empty in peak season - the owners are the ones who lose out."The B&B is left with several days empty in peak season - the owners are the ones who lose out.
"We've had reports of this from around the country, particularly in snow-affected areas - Scotland and Cumbria have been quite badly affected. And at times, B&Bs have had to contact the guest and tell them they won't be able to reach the B&B." "We've had reports of this from around the country, particularly in snow-affected areas - Scotland and Cumbria have been quite badly affected."
Mr Weston added: "My advice to people would be to find out where you're going to and get an accurate picture of what it's like. If you have to cancel your trip, let the B&B know as soon as you possibly can." Mr Weston added: "My advice to people would be to... get an accurate picture of what it's like. If you have to cancel your trip, let the B&B know as soon as you possibly can."
'Heartbreaking' lamb losses
Meanwhile, around 5,450 homes still have no power in Scotland and Northern Ireland after snow and strong winds damaged cables late last week.Meanwhile, around 5,450 homes still have no power in Scotland and Northern Ireland after snow and strong winds damaged cables late last week.
Around 3,500 homes on Kintyre and 1,500 on Arran are waiting to be reconnected, while a further 250 homes remain without electricity in Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway.Around 3,500 homes on Kintyre and 1,500 on Arran are waiting to be reconnected, while a further 250 homes remain without electricity in Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway.
In other developments:In other developments:
A Met Office spokesman said: "It will be very cold once again today - and will feel colder with strong easterly winds and some light snow showers, mainly across central, eastern and northern areas where we have a yellow warning in place."A Met Office spokesman said: "It will be very cold once again today - and will feel colder with strong easterly winds and some light snow showers, mainly across central, eastern and northern areas where we have a yellow warning in place."
He said as much as 5cm of fresh snow could fall in places, with temperatures only reaching 3 or 4°C by day. "There is also a yellow warning for snow in place for eastern parts of Northern Ireland, with similar accumulations expected."He said as much as 5cm of fresh snow could fall in places, with temperatures only reaching 3 or 4°C by day. "There is also a yellow warning for snow in place for eastern parts of Northern Ireland, with similar accumulations expected."
Looking forward through the rest of the week, he said snow showers were "likely to continue across north-eastern and central parts of the country, although the odd wintry flurry is possible almost anywhere.Looking forward through the rest of the week, he said snow showers were "likely to continue across north-eastern and central parts of the country, although the odd wintry flurry is possible almost anywhere.
"Widespread, penetrating night frosts and patchy ice will still be a factor, with bitter easterly winds along eastern coasts.""Widespread, penetrating night frosts and patchy ice will still be a factor, with bitter easterly winds along eastern coasts."
And Samuel Tombs of Capital Economics said the cold had the potential to push the UK into a second quarter of falling national output - which would cause a triple-dip recession.
"Although the current spell of cold and snowy weather is unlikely to have lasting economic consequences, a look back to previous cold snaps suggests that it might just be enough to make the difference between GDP stagnating and falling in the first quarter," he said.
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