HUNDREDS of families in Bolton are desperately rushing away from the wet Lancashire weather for a taste of summer.

A huge number of people have been dashing to book sunshine breaks for the Spring Bank Holiday And travel agents have credited the downpours and falling temperatures of the past week for the upturn in business.

The most popular holiday destinations include Greece, Bulgaria and the old favourite, Spain.

Those wanting a short break to cure their May monsoon blues are heading for cities such as Paris, Barcelona and Prague.

A spokesman for Travelcare, in Bridge Street, Bolton, said: "More people are booking holidays than is normal for this time of year.

"The terrible weather we've been having is encouraging people to take that last-minute deal and escape to the sun."

A spokesman for Thomas Cook in Victoria Square said: "Bad weather always makes people feel down and with such cheap holidays on offer, there's no reason why people can't enjoy a little sunshine and avoid the rain."

Internet travel company Lastminute.com said sales of short breaks had soared since the wet spell began.

The company's travel director, John Bevan, said: "The biggest departure day for weekend sunshine seekers is Friday. It seems that our customers are keen to ditch their desks and the dreadful weather as soon as possible."

Almost three inches of rain of rain fell in Bolton last weekend the average rainfall for the entire month is usually 4.5 inches.

Bolton weather expert Graham Fullerton said: "It's too early to say whether this May has been the wettest on record but it's certainly been dismal.

"But I'm afraid the weather will be just as bad over the Bank Holiday weekend, only really starting to brighten up from Tuesday.

"It'll be a bit cool for the next few days so I don't blame people for getting away.

"Fingers crossed, we'll have a good summer. It certainly looks as if may well be heading that way."

He said that history shows that the worse the weather is in May, the better the summer ahead.