About 20 per cent more long-haul flight bookings have been made with British Airways this week compared with last year, according to new figures.

The carrier said that with the Met Office predicting more rain and bad weather for the UK, Britons are taking the opportunity to experience a more pleasant climate overseas.

It added that the USA seems to be the most popular for travellers looking to get away from Britain's grey skies, with New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston among the top five long-haul destinations.

Hong Kong also placed highly, along with Paris, Rome, Nice, Madrid and Barcelona - primarily as a result of the good weather being experienced in central and southern Europe.

"It seems that those travelling from Britain just want to guarantee that they can be sure of some sun for their summer break," commented Robert Boyle, commercial director for British Airways.

The UK has seen severe flooding affect hundreds of thousands of people over recent weeks as a result of unusually high levels of rainfall for this time of year.

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