MORE than half of UK parents would be prepared for their child to miss a week of school in order to take a cheaper term time holiday, a study has found.

A further 30 per cent of parents would take them out for six to 10 days or more with an estimated £680 saved, on average, with a fifth claiming they would save more than £1,000.

The survey revealed that more than two thirds disagreed with fining parents for taking their children out of school for family holidays and more than half would not be put off by the threat of a local authority fine.

The survey was commissioned by Gocompare.com Travel Insurance and spokesperson Caroline Lloyd said: "The subject of term time holidays has come close to sparking a parents' revolt. With holiday and flight prices jumping substantially at the start of the school holidays and falling again when the children go back to school, it's no surprise that parents are fed up with being made to feel like criminals for trying to have a family holiday they can afford.

"Unless the Government compels travel companies and airlines to cap school holiday price increases or introduces staggered school holiday periods to reduce the effects of a six week high season, parents will have to resign themselves to either paying more for their holidays and staying on the right side of the school and education authority, or, in extreme cases, breaking the rules and risking a fine.