Holidays: Hooked on joys of croc 'n' roll

THERE'S fun for just about everyone from Pop Idol fans to grunt and groan addicts with Britain's holiday parks offering loads of special deals this autumn and winter.

And here's our pick of the very best deals for value and entertainment...

Pontin's (08705 331199; www. pontins. com) have prices starting from just pounds 12 per person for a three-night stay. Centres in Hemsby in Norfolk and Southport will be holding Captain Croc Party Breaks for families with young children in October. Hemsby also has a Mr Men show from October 18-21. with prices from pounds 65 for an adult, with up to two children free of charge. The Southport break from October 25-28 costs the same.

There's also music for all tastes with Big Bands starring the Joe Loss Orchestra at Pakefield from October 11-14 and Sounds Of Soul at Hemsby October 25-28.

Butlins (0870 242 0870; www. butlins. co.uk) are determined winter will go with a swing with Pop Idol stars Will Young and Gareth Gates topping the bill at Minehead (November 1-4). Chart sensations S Club, Darius, H & Claire appear November 8-11 and teen heart-throbs Blue from November 15-18.

You should head to Bognor (November 15-18) for some 80s Madness where you can also party the night away to Go West, ABC and Dr & The Medics as well as tribute bands to The Police and The Specials.

During half-term there are special Halloween breaks with haunted house shows as well as circus entertainers. Three nights at Skegness (October 25-28) cost pounds 34 a person, based on four people sharing a self-catering apartment.

Park Resorts (08701 299 299; www. park-resorts.com) are putting on a a grunt and groan extravaganza with British wrestling stars competing for the Wrestling Challenge Trophy at their holiday parks in October.

Sparky's Krew will keep 5 to 11-year-olds occupied, while there is also a full programme of sports activities and entertainment for the whole family.

Prices for a seven-night break from October 19 start at pounds 170 at Barmston Beach Holiday Park near Bridlington, staying in a caravan sleeping seven.

There are other sites at Kessingland Beach, Suffolk; Cayton Bay, near Scarborough; Heacham Beach,East Anglia; Ashcroft, Kent; Nodes Point, on the Isle of Wight; and Bideford Bay, Devon. In Wales there are sites in Carmarthen Bay, Brynowen near Aberystwyth and Ty Mawr, near Rhyl.

Warner Holidays (0870 601 6012; www.warnerholidays. co.uk) have the perfect answer for anyone looking for a weekend away from the children with short breaks at 13 country or seaside locations.

All have fully-fitted gyms and swimming pools. Prices for a three- night break at the seaside start at pounds 85 per person and pounds 107 for the countryside hotels. Breaks are on a half-board basis and include all entertainment and most leisure facilities.

Hoseasons Holiday Lodges and Parks (0870 900 9011; www.hoseasons. co.uk) have accommodation ranging from forest lodges to holiday parks with indoor pool complexes, children's clubs, sports facilities and evening entertainment. Up to four people can stay for a week in a two- bedroom lodge at Finlake holiday park in Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, for pounds 255 on a self-catering basis between September 28 and October 19.

There's a heated indoor swimming pool, pitch and putt course and horse riding. The park is ideally situated for exploring the Devon coast and Dartmoor.

British Holidays (08705 13 44 02; www.british- holidays. co.uk) have some bargains for caravan owners with pitches on the coast from just pounds 4 a night. Sites have indoor pools, children's clubs, sports and activities, bars and live family entertainment every night.

The site at Burnham-on-Sea has fishing lakes, Rockley Park, overlooking Poole Harbour, is great for watersports and Haggerston Castle in Northumberland has its own riding stables and a nine-hole golf course.

Haven Holidays (0870 242 2222; www.havenholidays. com) have half- term holiday breaks from just over pounds 100. Children can try their hand at scuba diving or learn basic life-saving skills. There's a whole range of sports, including tennis, fencing, archery and trampolining,

And you won't have to wait until Christmas to see a pantomime.

The price of a half-term break at Craig Tara, Haven Holidays all- action park on the Ayrshire coast, costs from pounds 109 for a family up to six sharing.

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