Scores of people have embarked on caravan holidays over the last year, with the trend looking set to continue into 2010, it has been said.

Jon Dale, spokesperson for The Camping and Caravanning Club, believes people see it as an affordable holiday option.

"You can pay around £20 per night per pitch for a stay on [a camping site] whereas if you stay in a bed and breakfast in a hotel it's going to cost you a lot more money," he suggested.

There has also been a rise in the number of holidaymakers heading to the UK from overseas to take caravan holidays, Mr Dale revealed, mainly because of the value offered by the weak pound.

A great deal of flexibility is offered by caravanning as once a person is armed with their vehicle - and caravan insurance - they can head wherever they like, when they like, he claimed.

"You're not tied to anywhere in particular, you use the site as a base and then you can go round and explore as and when you want," emphasised the expert.

Mr Dale believes that Scotland is always a firm favourite for those wanting a sightseeing break, with the Lake District also popular.

Looking further south, he recommends heading to Devon and Cornwall which are favourite destinations among families in the holiday season.

He acknowledged that the signs are "particularly encouraging" for next year, adding that it is important for the popularity of caravanning to be maintained.

Bookings at the Camping and Caravanning Club are already up 48 per cent on the same time last year, Mr Dale revealed.

Easter and the May bank holidays are likely to be some of the busiest times to go on a caravan break over the coming months, he concluded.