PEOPLE in our region are fighting off the post-Christmas blues by booking themselves a break in the sun.

Travel agents throughout York say people are flocking through their doors to find ways to escape the damp and gloomy weather.

The manager of Thomas Cook on Nessgate, Clare Ward, said: "We have definitely had a very busy week, which could well be a result of the bad weather.

"People are coming in to book their summer holidays, to give them something to look forward to, but many are also booking a getaway to the sun in January and February to avoid the cold and rain."

A spokeswoman for Travelcare, which has a branch at Acomb and Clifton Moor, said sales were up this year following last year's slump after September 11.

She said: "People get Christmas out of the way and think about holidays both summer and last-minute.

"There are many people booking holidays, it is more than last year because of September 11."

A spokeswoman for Going Places, which has four branches in York, said people were hitting the New Year sales and dropping into their local travel agent at the same time.

She said: "A lot of people in York are going into shops for last-minute deals and going away the next day or in the next few weeks.

"A lot of families are going in to book for summer because the shops have a lot of offers on."

The retail director at Lunn Poly, John McEwan, said: "People are using the first few days after Christmas to compare prices and make a decision where to go.

"We're expecting the booking to begin in earnest next week."

Top holiday spots include Ibiza, Majorca, Corfu, Lanzarote and Turkey, cruise holidays along with Florida, the Dominican Republic, Australia and Mexico.

Updated: 10:14 Saturday, January 04, 2003