The number of British people who are choosing to move abroad is rising, according to an expert.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, told the Daily Mail that a number of different issues are prompting Britons to relocate to a new home.

Speaking to the newspaper, he said emigration has doubled in the last couple of years, partly because people are attracted by potential lifestyle improvements overseas.

“People find the UK is getting more and more crowded and they see crime rates going up,” Sir Andrew commented.

He added that the recent economic slowdown in Britain has also contributed to a surge in the amount of outward migration.

According to the Spanish Property Owners Guild, many people from the UK are choosing to start a new life in Spain because they are dissatisfied with life at home.

The organisation highlighted a number of reasons for this trend, such as concerns over taxation, crime levels and the rising cost of living in Britain.

Most British holidaymakers do not know the language of the country they are visiting, according to a new study.

Research by LateRooms.com revealed that 81 per cent of tourists from the UK are unwilling to take a phrase book or dictionary with them when heading overseas.

More than half of those polled were found to be unable to recognise basic phrases in the language of their holiday destination, while one in three said they rely on the ability of locals to speak fluent English.

Chris Morris, managing director of LateRooms.com, commented: “A phrase book or dictionary doesn’t take up much room in a suitcase and British tourists will be surprised at how far a couple of useful phrases can go.”

He said learning the language is a good way for people to broaden their horizons, communicate with local people and soak up the culture.

This comes after a poll by LateRooms.com found that 15 per cent of British adults do not know where Spain is on a normal map.

People who relocate to Spain may be able to enjoy reduced living costs, according to experts.

ShelterOffshore.com said the European country is currently very popular with retired expatriates from places such as the UK.

The website stated that upon setting up home in Spain, foreign nationals are finding that they are saving money in many areas.

For example, utility bills and food costs are lower, while many are also paying smaller amounts in tax than they were in the UK.

ShelterOffshore.com added that the fact Spain has a hot and sunny climate means people are not paying as much for central heating.

The website commented: “The cost of living is generally lower when you have less need for fuel to heat your home.”

According to the Institute of Public Policy Research, more than 3.3 million British pensioners are likely to be living abroad by 2050.

Property investors from Britain are still very willing to purchase a foreign residence, a new study has found.

According to Jet-to-Let magazine, the credit crunch is not putting people off the idea of investing in bricks and mortar, particularly in other countries.

Research by the publication found that respondents unanimously believe that buying a foreign property is a better option than putting money into stocks and shares.

In addition, results showed that most investors are not buying abroad in order to collect short-term gains.

For example, 98 per cent of those surveyed said they plan to use their overseas residence as part of their pension plan.

Dominic Farrell, editor of Jet-to-Let magazine, commented: “The results clearly show that educated investors understand the long-term nature of property investment.”

According to figures from Holiday-Rentals, 31 per cent of British-owned foreign properties in Europe are located in Spain.

Overseas property investors who are in search of a bargain have been encouraged to consider the Spanish market.

According to ShelterOffshore.com, the European country currently offers a number of opportunities for foreign buyers.

The website said this is partly because the housing market in Spain is currently undergoing a price correction.

As a result, buyers could potentially “call the shots” throughout the purchasing process, especially if they are paying with cash.

ShelterOffshore.com said: “Spain is a great market offering real opportunities right now.”

However, the website added that prospective buyers still need to take important issues into account when purchasing a residence.

For example, it stated that investors should consider the location and quality of their home, as well as current market conditions.

This comes after Kyero.com revealed that many people are holding off on making a purchase and waiting for prices to come down.

Real estate experts have claimed that with repossessions increasing, foreign property seekers were being presented with some excellent investment opportunities in Spain.

Reflecting on the effects of the ‘credit squeeze,’ real estate firm Propertyinspain.net claimed that repossessions were bringing a steady supply of properties back onto the market, providing bargain opportunities.

The company claimed that the growth of the Spanish economy and strong job creation in particular areas made buy-to-let purchases on re-sale properties a sound investment, with plenty of new workers in the area guaranteed to supply rental demand.

Terry Walker, spokesperson for propertyinspain.net, advised buy-to-let buying in Spain, claiming: “Some of the areas where they’re located are showing economic growth anyway. People are coming in with the new IT and logistics industries.”

Explaining the new availability of quality properties, Mr Walker added: “There are properties for about 30,000 euros but spend the same again and you’ve got a lovely family house in the middle of a village.”

He added that the Costa del Sol – already a highly desirable area for British buyers – was one of the areas presenting bargain buys after repossessions.

ITV1’s Bafta-nominated sitcom Benidorm is set to return to Britain’s TV screens for a third series.

Eight episodes of the show, which stars Johnny Vegas and Steve Pemberton, have been commissioned along with an hour-long special.

Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV, said he is “delighted” that the popular series will be coming back next year.

He commented: “Benidorm has a fantastic mix of warmth, charm, and fun.”

The sitcom, which was created by Derren Little, was recently credited with inspiring a surge of interest in holidays to the region.

According to LateRooms.com, the number of bookings for trips to Benidorm doubled throughout the duration of its second series earlier this year.

Kathy Gwinnett, spokesperson for the website, praised the resort for offering a number of different attractions for holidaymakers, including affordable hotels, good beaches and a very lively atmosphere.

Much of the TV series was filmed at the Hotel Sol Pelicanos-Ocas in Benidorm, while many scenes were also recorded at places such as Morgan’s Tavern.

A British expatriate has spoken to the BBC about his move from the UK to Spain’s Costa Blanca region.

Eric and Viola Summers relocated to Torrevieja back in 1999 and believe their lives have improved considerably as a result.

Speaking to BBC News, Mr Summers said the Costa Blanca offers a much better quality of life, partly because it has excellent weather.

He added that the region also has many cultural attractions, such as concerts and shows, as well as good public services.

In particular, the local hospitals were described as “tremendous”.

Mr Summers also believes he is financially better off in Spain than in the UK, even though both countries have been affected by issues such as rising fuel prices.

He commented: “We’re still much better off than we would be in England.

“If we were living there we’d have to be on benefits.”

This comes after Saga Travel Money suggested that expats save money by purchasing locally-sourced goods rather than imported items from home.

People in England are increasing selling their homes and using the capital to buy abroad, it has been revealed.

The Emigration Group stated that falling house prices in the UK have directly contributed to the popularity of moving abroad in the last few months.

Speaking to the Cambridge News, company director Paul Arthur said this is because people want to make the most of the value of their home before it falls even further.

This trend was said to be highly apparent in southern and eastern England, for example counties such as Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Mr Arthur commented: “House prices have peaked and people with more equity realise they can get a different lifestyle abroad.”

According to the BuyAssociation website, Spain is currently one of the main hotspots among Britons who want a foreign property.

Property editor Paul Collins said this includes those who are looking to live abroad on a permanent basis.

Fuel prices in Spain are relatively low in comparison to other European countries, according to new figures.

Statistics from the Post Office show that unleaded petrol costs £1 a litre in Spain - 30 per cent less than in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In addition, the research revealed that a litre of diesel costs 94p a litre at Spanish petrol stations, making it 26 per cent cheaper than the UK.

This has prompted the Post Office to recommend that British people who plan to take a motoring holiday overseas consider visiting the country.

The organisation commented: “Spain emerges as the best value destination for UK holidaymakers in Europe.”

In addition, it stated that the cost of hiring a car is also much lower than in neighbouring European countries.

This comes after a study by American Express found that ten per cent of British families are considering going on a driving holiday in Europe this summer.