Wet weather drives Britons abroad

The unseasonal weather of the summer months could be behind the rising popularity of moving to another country.

This is the conclusion of The Emigration Group, which said this year's "dreadful" summer has led to many people seeking a better climate overseas.

Paul Arthur, director of the organisation, told the Manchester Evening News that the ongoing downturn in the UK economy has also fuelled this trend.

He commented: "The number of people enquiring about emigrating is up by about 25 per cent this year."

Mr Arthur added that people in the north-west of England seem to be especially keen to pack their bags and move to sunnier climes.

He stated that the majority of the enquiries his group has received in recent months are from consumers in places such as Manchester.

Earlier this week, Shelter Offshore recommended that anyone who is thinking of emigrating should "do their homework" before committing to a move.