HOLIDAY park operator Haven has extended its 2020 season for the first time in its history at 16 of its sites, including Weymouth Bay.

Haven will be extending the season until the end of November to give more people the chance to enjoy a UK holiday - after breaks were cancelled for weeks during the summer amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The company usually only runs holidays until the end of October to give owners a chance to enjoy the parks to themselves throughout November. However, this year Haven has chosen to include an extra month in this year's season as the demand for UK holidays increases.

It comes after the holiday operator was forced to shut all of its parks from March 20 - July 6 as part of the nationwide lockdown.

Sixteen parks will be remain open until the end of November, including Weymouth Bay Holiday Park in Preston. The park will be be filled to no more than 75% capacity to allow for social distancing, while swimming pools will remain closed.

Gerard Tempest, Director of Guest and Proposition at Haven, said: "We’re delighted to be able to extend our 2020 season and with that, the chance for a UK getaway. With a number of travel restrictions in place, and previous closures to holiday parks throughout the UK, there are many guests that weren’t able to enjoy the holiday they had previously planned for 2020.

"We hope that by extending our season, we’re able to allow more people the chance to get a break by the coast.

"We know holiday makers are still looking for the chance to safely get away during the pandemic and want to be able to provide that for as many people as possible."

Since May, Haven has seen an increase in sales of almost 60 per cent for 2020 summer holidays and sales of more than 200 percent for 2021.

Haven spokeswoman Judith Ineson added: "There are a lot of people that want a change of scenery this year so hopefully by extending the season it will allow a few more people to take a break."

Haven will offer a free guarantee on all bookings until the end of November which allows guests to change their holiday up until three days before their arrival should they be prevented from travelling due to coronavirus.