The frustration of passport backlogs, the soaring costs of bookings and the astonishingly good weather have combined to turn Britain into a nation of ‘staycationers’.

According to the 2014 annual Travelodge holiday index, nearly three quarters of Brits have decided to take their holiday at home this year, up from 65% last year and 33% in 2010.

Overseas bookings are falling as local camping and caravan sites fill up.

We asked local businesses whether they had benefitted from the rise of the ‘staycation’.

Jackie Moore, 34, Assistant Manager at Osea Leisure Park, Goldhanger Road, Heybridge, said ‘staycations’ were the perfect holiday for those with young children.

She said: “Bookings have gone up from last year.

“In the entirety of last year we had 1,100 bookings and this year we have had almost 1,100 bookings already."

Read the full Spotlight in this week's Maldon and Burnham Standard.