Labour's consumer affairs spokeswoman Ms Mary Upton has warned holidaymakers not to purchase their travel insurance until they have shopped around.

She said customers could save up to £10 (€12.7) per person by buying insurance direct from an insurance company. "In our research we identified that travel agents were quoting between £27 and £29 for an adult going abroad for one week. However, when we contacted insurance companies directly we found standard travel insurance packages were available from £19," she said.