Bookings at Dorset and Hampshire holiday parks are booming as the falling pound makes breaks in many European destinations even more expensive.

With sterling slumping to another new low against the Euro, the number of families choosing to holiday in Britain next year could soar by at least a million.

Travel firms have reported a rise in British holiday bookings with self-catering breaks, holiday parks, boat holidays and country lodges on home soil all proving popular as cash-strapped families, hit by the credit crunch, call time on breaks abroad.

Geoffrey Smith, general manager at Rockley Park holiday park in Poole, told the Daily Echo: “Our bookings are up about 20 per cent for next year, compared to this time last year.

“We are doing our bit to give customers value for money; if we can continue to ensure that they get good quality experiences in Britain they can avoid the problems of travelling abroad, such as airport queues and long delays.

“We are pleased by the number of bookings coming in, following a decade of strong growth at Rockley Park, but we can’t be complacent.”

Hoburne, which has two holiday parks in New Milton and one in Christchurch, says the value of advance bookings have tripled so far this year, from £200,000 to £600,000.

Managing director James Lapage said: “A lot of people are concerned about what is around the corner, but they look forward to their family holiday.

“We have frozen many of our 2008 prices to help ensure families tightening their purse strings can still enjoy precious time away together.

“The booking figures are testament to the increase in popularity of UK breaks.”

Bournemouth’s director of tourism Mark Smith said: “Overseas holidays are not the bargains they once were now that the pound is weak.

“People are now rediscovering the joys of the British seaside.

“We’ve improved our hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment to make Bournemouth unbeatable.”