Flintshire Council's executive member for regeneration and tourism, Cllr Mel Higham said the county was well prepared to welcome an influx of holidaygoers eager to avoid the strong Euro and take advantage of the attractions on offer here.

He said: "We're finding that people are definitely looking to stay at home rather than venture abroad for their holidays." We've seen a big leap in caravan bookings so far this year. The fact that the facilities in Flintshire have improved greatly in recent years is also a factor."

The National Caravan Council says its member sites are seeing bookings grow by between 20 per cent and 50 per cent on last year.

With top attractions including Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, Moel Famau and Talacre beach, there is a feeling that Flintshire is poised to become a Mecca for credit crunch-aware tourists.

Easter fell three weeks earlier last year, in March, and Cllr Higham said warmer weather, coupled with the fact that English and Welsh schools are on holiday at the same time this year, could provide a further boost.

He said: "The number of people coming in has definitely improved and it can only have a good effect.

"Early indications show the weather forecasts are better than last year too, so let's hope we have a good summer."

A spokesman for Greenacres Caravan Park in Gronant said: "We are getting a lot more calls than usual, but unfortunately for them we've been fully booked for a couple of weeks.

"Maybe people are leaving it to the last minute having realised a bit late that it will be cheaper to stay at home.

"There definitely seems to be a greater interest this year."

Source: eveningleader.co.uk