Silverdale Holiday Park, on the borders of south Cumbria, saw a 60-year record for the number of people choosing to spend the New Year break away from home. More than 1000 guests were partying and popping the corks on their bubbly on January 31, nearly doubling the village’s population of some 1500 people, most of them staying in luxury holiday homes.

Also pitching up were scores of campers and owners of touring caravans, plus people with motorhomes and others booking one of the park’s glamping pods.

Many of the visitors claimed that they have a much more relaxing break when everyone is on neutral territory and away from their usual family surroundings.