BRITONS looking to escape to the sun after weeks of miserable weather have lifted holiday bookings at beleaguered travel firm Thomas Cook.

The UK’s second biggest travel company said its summer programme was now 88% sold after a weather-related boost in recent weeks following a subdued April and May.

But cumulative bookings in the UK were still down 1% on last year as at July 29, although this was unchanged from its last update in May, the 170-year-old firm said.

The group, which was recently forced to turn to its banks for an additional £200m of loans, reported an underlying operating loss of £26.5m in the three months to June 30 due to tough trading conditions and the cost of acquisitions.