News broke this week that British holidaymakers could visit destinations including Italy and France this summer if Covid-19 cases there can be driven down to UK levels, according to a senior scientific adviser.

Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, whose modelling work informs Government scientists, said he had not yet booked a break abroad but the risks were focused on countries with higher infection levels than the UK.

It comes after the European Commission said it would ease restrictions on travel to the bloc amid progressing Covid-19 vaccination campaigns and lower infection rates.

The EU is proposing "to allow entry to the EU for non-essential reasons not only for all persons coming from countries with a good epidemiological situation, but also all people who have received the last recommended dose of an EU-authorised vaccine".

The news led to a debate in our comments where readers mooted whether they would fancy taking a holiday abroad at some point later in the year.

For reader Rachael Greig, the news that international holidays may be permitted after all this year was welcomed.

She stated: Yes! I can't wait to get on a plane out of here.

She added: "It's been seven long months since our last holiday!"

Reader Claire Dixon was, however, hoping for slightly more clarity about what a foreign holiday may consist of in terms of regulations.

She said: "I could not imagine having to wear a mask walking around the pool area."

Many readers did state they would be taking a holiday but insisted they would remain in the UK this year.

Glennys Wiggin added that she would be taking a so-called 'staycation' this summer instead of jetting abroad,

"I'll be enjoying exploring the UK for once," she said.

"I'm staying in Britain," Maureen Beck added.

Justin Steel concurred: "I'll just holiday in the UK."