Travellers urged to keep passports safe

Britons have been advised to keep their passports locked away after a survey revealed that many value their iPods over their passports.

The survey by FDS International for the Home Office showed almost a third of Britons keep their iPods and jewellery in a safe and secure place, compared with just 22 per cent of people locking away passports.

"Passports are often not seen as valuable so get left on a sideboard or put in a file," said Bernard Herdan of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS).

"However, to a thief they are far more valuable than many gadgets and are likely to get stolen in a burglary if not securely locked away."

Despite this, many travellers are more conscious of the safety of their passports once abroad, with over half of Britons keeping them in a safe at their hotel.

The IPS advises holidaymakers to make two copies of their passport before setting off on holiday and leave one with a trusted friend or relative, taking the other with them.

It also says that should foreign officials ask travellers to surrender their passport, they should check whether this is standard procedure with the travel operator or the British consulate.

• Less than a week until Esta launch
• 'Spectacular events' in Italy
• Europe 'to remain popular for skiing holidays'
• US connecting flights proving popular at Bristol Airport
• Record year for London City Airport
• Virgin Atlantic to celebrate 25th year
• Long haul trips 'offer best value this year'
• Budget travellers offered holiday guide
• Record passenger growth for Etihad in 2008
• Spain top for Scots in 2009