MY GRANDDAUGHTER her husband and three children plus chihuahua dog are camping in the Isle of Wight.

On Monday afternoon Storm Francis took their gazebo away.

Attempts to find a hotel for Monday night under £1000 proved fruitless.

They could not return to the mainland, as no ferries were running (due to the bad weather).

At 3am in the morning the tent collapsed and they decamped to the car and yesterday they managed to hire a caravan for two nights at a cost of £360.

Today while walking through Hedge End outside a travel agent, my husband noticed a sign saying "Three nights B&B in Venice with return flights from Gatwick for £179 per person".

Leaving aside the weather, why would anyone holiday in England.

Mary Wood

Woolston