BRITS are scrambling to leave England for sunnier climates ahead of a second lockdown starting this week.

Restrictions coming into place after midnight on Thursday mean that travel both within the UK and outside the country will be banned. 

However, the government has said that people already on holiday do not need to cut their trips short. 

As a result, people keen to spend the next month in somewhere other than their living room have been booking last minute trips to winter sun destinations like the Caribbean.

According to a number of travel agents, phones have been ringing non-stop with requests to book trips leaving in the next 48 hours. 

Colum McLornan, MD of Friendship Travel which specialises in trips for single people, told The Telegraph: “The phones at Friendship Travel are ringing off the hook this morning with single travellers desperate to fly to the sun before Thursday.

"Unlike before, airlines don't seem to be rushing to repatriate travellers, so if you start a holiday before Thursday then it looks as if you can complete it as planned."

Travel expert Paul Charles, who runs the PC Agency, told Mail Online that there are limited places for people to visit without needing to quarantine on their way back into the UK and they are currently proving very popular.

He said: "There's enormous pent-up demand to travel and a lot of bookings have actually been taken in the last 24 hours, from people searching for somewhere to go before Wednesday evening.

"The Caribbean is one good example. It's pretty open, you can go to Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia then come back to the UK and not have to quarantine and a lot of people may want to do that to leave the country – you can't really blame them.”

A number of airlines are continuing to run flights as planned until Thursday.

Jet2 is currently operating holidays until Wednesday, but is yet to update holidays after this and British Airways are yet to announce any cancellations.

EasyJet are reviewing their flights and holidays planned during the lockdown period but said it was "likely" they would be cancelled until next month.

While TUI holidays will go ahead until the lockdown, flights and trips after this may be affected.

Here is everything to know about getting a refund if your holiday or flights are affected.

You are entitled to a cash refund if they've cancelled your holiday but many have large delays or may offer vouchers instead.

If the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to countries or regions, you may also be covered for cancellations by your travel insurance if the holiday provider or airline is not helping you.

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