Holidaybreak cheered by trading performance

The group, which also sells adventure holidays and weekend theatre breaks, said it was encouraged by the resilience of its business since March.

The update contrasted with this week's profit warnings from bigger operators Thomas Cook and Thomson Holidays owner TUI after more Britons opted to stay at home because of economic conditions and distractions such as the World Cup.

Holidaybreak's camping division sales were level with last year, while its PGL-branded outdoor education centres performed well with sales up 8%.

The short-break hotels division, which is focused on London trips, saw a 4% drop in sales but reported some encouraging trends in recent weeks.

Bob Baddeley, group finance director, said: "We tend to do well when there are big shows on in London. It's been a difficult market for a while with the consumer against discretionary spending."

Its adventure travel sales were level with a year earlier but up 11% for the for 2010/11 financial year amid evidence of increased confidence.