With flights cheaper and quicker than ever in reaching European destinations, British holidaymakers are taking year-round trips that they would never have considered in the past, it has been claimed.

The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said that rapid city breaks were now a huge craze with travel-loving Brits, thanks to budget airlines opening up routes to locations all nearby countries like France and Spain,

Figures from the Office for National Statistics in 2006 revealed that 80 per cent of all trips abroad taken by UK residents were to Europe, accounting overall for £20.3 billion of overseas spending.

Sean Tipton, spokesperson for Abta, said: "One of the main reasons for the increase in the popularity of short city breaks is the low cost carriers.

"In the past, before the no frills airlines started, a flight to Madrid, where only a couple of airlines would have flown, would have cost £300 or £400."

Ryanair alone offers flights to Madrid from Liverpool, the East Midlands and Dublin, allowing UK holidaymakers and property seekers easy access to the heart of Spain for well below £300.