MORE than a third of people in Dorset have already booked their 2017 holiday, according to research by Voucherbox.co.uk

And half of people in Dorset are choosing to holiday on the continent. 

According to the research, when it comes to planning an escape 39 per cent of people in Dorset book their holidays for 2017 on January 5.

And 21 per cent have a preference to visit Spain with 10 per cent wanting to visit France, six per cent Greece and five per cent Portugal. 

The findings from the money saving website also reveal that more a quarter admit to using work time to carry out their holiday research another fifth are considering the idea.

Not letting work deter them from shaking those gloomy blues, one in six employees will go so far as to book their holiday whilst at work – one in three doing so before 11am. 

Shane Forster, UK Country Manager at Voucherbox, said: “January can hit us all quite hard, and seemingly in the pocket for employers.

"The research may come as a surprise to some, especially considering the majority of holidays bookings are done and dusted.

On the plus side, that should have bought a few more smiles.”