THOUSANDS of holiday makers are set to be sent home as the trade association responsible for holiday parks "strongly advises" their closure with immediate effect.

This afternoon, The British Holiday & Home Parks Association revealed it had contacted its members responsible for more than 2,900 UK holiday and touring parks.

Advising all to close their parks to all holiday visitors, the trade association said those with touring caravans, motorhomes and tents should vacate their holiday parks.

Meanwhile those who rent self-catering holiday accommodation including glamping, holiday caravans and lodges, should also leave their site with immediate effect

However, the trade association acknowleged owners of holiday caravans who were in self-isolation with suspected COVID-19 symptoms.

A statement published said: “Whilst we acknowledge that a complete closure of all holiday parks would be desirable, doing so would – in some instances – result in actions contrary to the advice of Government.

“Where the owners of holiday caravans have self-isolated and are presently in situ on the holiday park, requiring them to return home, often a considerable distance away, would necessitate journeys of the type we are all being asked to avoid in order to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus, and may send them back to the very risk they have isolated from.

“BH&HPA is currently in discussion with Government on this matter, and we are suggesting that the best interests of holiday caravan owners, as well as the general public, will only be served by a sensitive approach to customers’ individual needs.

“With this taken into account, BH&HPA would wholeheartedly support a Government directive for all holiday parks across the industry, and urges Ministers to issue such instructions as soon as possible.”