Holidays leave us 'exhausted'

Millions of Britons will be left stressed and exhausted this summer -

In addition, they will be overweight after eating fatty foreign food and drinking too much for two weeks.

An ICM poll for holiday firm Neilson Beachplus reveals that the average Briton puts on 4.3lb on a week-long break, and more than half a stone in a fortnight. An unlucky 21 per cent said their weight rose by nearly a stone while away.

And holidays are often far from the carefree days on golden beaches that many plan for. The survey of 1,003 people found that even planning caused arguments.

Three in four couples said they disagreed on what type of holiday to take. Though six in 10 people preferred-independent holidays, 85 per cent of them found them too stressful to book.

A third of all couples argued regularly on holiday, and one in five men had fallen out for good with a holiday companion - most putting the blame on the pressure of having to do things they didn't want to. One in five adults were contacted by the office while away.

A Neilson spokesman said many people "are unable to leave their stresses and work behind. One third of UK adults find it impossible to switch off and totally relax".

Some 54 per cent of people surveyed said they were more tired when they came back than when they set off