HOLIDAYMAKERS have given a welcome boost to beleaguered MyTravel by celebrating the end of the war in Iraq with a sunshine break.

The company said although sales dipped when the conflict broke out, people are now defying terror threats, though they appear to be picking destinations carefully.

The boost in sales which has followed the end of the war is helping MyTravel, formerly Airtours, get over last year's share price collapse, which came after a series of profits warnings and the discovery of a £50million 'black hole' in its finances.

It will come as welcome news to hundreds of employees based in Accrington, Helmshore and Rochdale.

A spokesman for MyTravel, founded in Burnley, said: "The majority of our tour operators are European, so we're probably not affected as much as some.

"Recently the market has picked up considerably. When the war started, people were hesitant and it took them longer to book, but in the last three weeks things have picked up remarkably.

"In countries like Turkey, which borders Iraq, we have probably had a decline but we still have a lot of bookings there. Most of the main holiday resorts are at the other side of the country, and it's a massive place. People are realistic."

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents said: "During the war bookings were down by up to 20 per cent but terrorism per se doesn't usually put people off booking holidays. People are conscious of the fact nowhere is 100 per cent safe and even in the UK there is a risk of terrorism."