Nearly one in 10 people don't book their holiday until a few days before departure, according to research commissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority.

A poll of just over 2,000 Brits by ComRes carried out earlier this month found 5% are happy to leave booking their holiday until the actual day of their departure.

The research also revealed that holidaymakers in London are nearly twice as likely as the rest of Great Britain to have booked on the same day (9%).

There is also a tendency for those in the North West to consider booking their holiday just a few days before - 19% versus 15% overall.

Just under half of us book at least seven days in advance.

Andy Cohen, head of ATOL, said: "Even if the idea of grabbing a last minute deal is appealing, it is worth spending an extra couple of minutes to check your holiday bargain is ATOL protected.

"Having an ATOL certificate means that your holiday is financially protected, so if the travel company goes bust, you will still be able to get home and will not lose your hard earned cash. For added peace of mind, whenever you book your holiday, look for the ATOL logo to ensure you can fully enjoy your well-earned holiday."

Courtesy of Travelmole