BRITONS are missing out on savings worth millions of pounds by booking train tickets for summer trips at the last minute, according to new analysis.

A total of £4.5 million could have been saved by passengers who did not buy cheaper Advance fares for journeys taking place between July 23 and August 31 last year, data released by ticket selling app Trainline revealed.

Londoners were worst hit by not taking advantage of savings worth £1.5 million.

A poll of 2,000 adults commissioned by Trainline found that a quarter (25%) of people book travel for UK breaks less than a week in advance, with one in 10 (10%) leaving it until the day of departure.

This is despite more than a third (34%) acknowledging that their trips are more expensive when they do not book ahead.

The majority (54%) of respondents blamed worries about the weather for their hesitation in booking UK day trips or short breaks in advance.

Fergus Weldon, director of data science at Trainline, said: “Waiting until the eleventh hour is costing Brits millions and often means missing out on important events and social engagements, with some even missing out on the break entirely.

“While spontaneity has its advantages, planning ahead could go a long way when it comes to savings this summer.”

VisitEngland figures show that Britons took 47.2 million holidays in England last year, up 6% from 2016.