School holiday travel price hikes

Half term begins for many schools across the UK in a couple of weeks, but families who are heading away face steep bills for their trips.

Research for BBC Breakfast has found that prices of some package holidays have doubled, and air fares to some ski destinations are as much as four times higher.

More than 150,000 people have signed an online petition demanding an end to travel companies putting up prices during the school holidays.

Simon Calder, The Independent's travel editor, says: "In some cases the price effectively doubles."

A spokesperson for travel association ABTA said that the price rises were due to "supply and demand".