Spain has regained its crown as the top European summer sun destination for British tourists.

The country has overtaken former hotspots like Turkey and Greece, according to online travel agency Holidays-Direct.

"On assessing confirmed bookings we see Spain is the destination of choice, ahead of other countries," said Paul Reeve of Holidays-Direct.

"The phrases that visitors to our site are searching for also point to Spain being the top country as it features in a huge number of searches.

"When people search for Spain it is usually alongside other phrases, such as "sun deal" or "bargain holiday".

"Spain is definitely established in the consumers' minds as a value-for-money destination for families where you're guaranteed to get good weather."

According to the travel company, Spanish destinations are popular because the country is supported by airports in all regions of the UK.

Paul Reeve, Holidays-Direct: "Spain is definitely established in the consumers' minds as a value-for-money destination for families where you're guaranteed to get good weather."

"The fact that holidaymakers can get to Spain from over a dozen UK airports is another big factor, especially for people with young children as it helps keep travelling time to a minimum," Mr Reeve said.

Another reason for the high number of bookings is the buoyant Spanish property market and the fact that many UK residents own homes in Spain.

"This naturally leads to more holidays being booked. People are flying to their holiday homes more frequently, instead of holidaying in different countries and they invite friends and family. It has a snowball effect," Mr Reeve added.

"The Spanish authorities imposed regulations to prohibit over-development in the Eighties and this has broadened the appeal for a wider market."

The current international situation is thought to be the reason for Turkey's relative slow down compared to Spain.

The Foreign office advises that Turkey is generally safe to visit, but as always recommends checking the latest updates before departure.