The British 'stiff upper lip' spirit is shining through this summer – even if the sun isn't.

Those who took a chance and booked a holiday in the UK after being promised good weather are staying positive despite the downpours.

Excited families are still heading to the county's caravan parks, camp sites and waterways for their summer break.

Unfortunately, those who haven't booked yet seem to be looking for a bit of late sunshine abroad, according to the county's travel agents.

But in true British fashion, caravan owners at Proctor's Park, in Barrow Upon Soar, are among those braving the unpredictable conditions and "making the most of it".

Vic Brooks, 51, from Nottingham, has been visiting the park for 25 years and said this year would be no exception.

He said: "I love it here. The weather hasn't been great this year, but you do what you can and try to make the most of it."

Proctor's Park has space for 400 static and mobile caravans and can accommodate up to 1,000 people.

It stands next to the River Soar and the Grand Union Canal and also has moorings for canal boats.

Park manager Jonathan Proctor said they have had a good summer season despite the bad weather.

He said: "Economic conditions and the weak euro mean that people are holidaying much more in the UK.

"Coupled with the fact that they were promised a barbecue summer, the British tourist industry has been given quite a boost.

"June was lovely and we hardly had a spot of rain, so for us that was really positive.

"Lately the weather hasn't been great but people are still coming. If the weather is good we get a lot more people."

Static caravans can cost up to £20,000 to buy and once holidaymakers have bought their mobile homes there is also an annual fee of £1,300 to the park for the pitch.

John Marshall, 69, from Loughborough, owns a stationary caravan and comes back to the park most weekends.

He said: "I live in Loughborough and come here for a few months at a time, I follow the sun really.

"It's slightly disappointing this year but you do what you can.

"There is plenty in the village – there's pubs, Chinese and Indian restaurants and shops, and the park clubhouse is open at weekends.

"We always find something to do."

However, some travel agents say that many people who booked their holidays in the UK have scrapped them because of bad weather and re-booked breaks in early autumn.

Guy Fletcher, manager at Millington Travel, in Halford Street, in Leicester's city centre, said: "Lots of people were promised a barbecue summer and booked short breaks and holidays in the UK.

"Now we're finding that they're either doing away with their plans completely or trying to find a late deal.

"They are looking at somewhere like Turkey or Greece where it's still going to be hot in September."

Owner of Apex Holidays, in Melton Road and Evington Road, Asif Vindhani, said: "We have seen an increase in bookings for September and October.

"We think this could be because people are fed up with the weather and want to get away somewhere hot.

"We've especially noticed a lot of interest in packages to the Far East and Middle East, and Goa and Mombasa."