Farms across Worcestershire and Herefordshire are proving surprisingly popular with British holidaymakers this summer.

Working farms in central England are among the UK's top holiday spots as people dodge the cost of travelling abroad during a pandemic.

Out of a total 256,200 bookings made on Pitchup.com for farm-based campsites this summer, just under 43,900 were on working farms across central England, with plenty spread across sites in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

The region was only pipped in popularity by the Southwest, which saw a whopping 74,500 bookings from campers eager for a taste of the farm life.

The surge of bookings has injected a well-needed £42m into the UK’s rural economy so far, with many more millions expected to be generated before the end of the summer, especially with an impending heatwave.

And the campsites have also boosted other local economies as well, with figures showing that on top of the camping fees, visitors spent around £30 per night in the local area, helping pubs, restaurants, cafes, and many more businesses bounce back from the crippling effect of Covid.

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, said he wasn’t surprised that central England has proven so popular among campers.

"Central England has such a diverse range of things to do and see, it’s no wonder it is attracting so many visitors," he said.

"With countryside ranging from the Shropshire and Malvern Hills in the west to the picturesque villages nestled in the flatlands of Lincolnshire to the east, and market towns and vibrant cities, it’s got something for everyone.

"And with a rich farming heritage in the shire counties that dominate central England, there’s the supply to meet demand from COVID-weary campers. It’s great to see them flocking to this part of the country for their summer holidays and a slice of the good life."

Hundreds of opportunist farmers up and down the country have since set up temporary campsites under extended Permitted Development Rules in a bid to benefit from the boom.

Previously, the rules limited farmers to operating a campsite for just 28 days of the year, unless they applied for planning permission to extend this.

And after increasing this allowance to 56 days last year, a successful campaign from Pitchup.com has since seen the government enable farms to operate as campsites until the end of October in a bid to help the rural economy recover.

And Mr Yates believes that this will provide a significant financial boost to many local farmers.

"Our analysis shows farmers and landowners can earn up to £111,000 from setting up a temporary campsite to capture the key dates in the holiday season," he added.

"Visitors also spend extra in the local area too, so pop-up campsites are a fantastic way to help struggling rural communities.

"From a visitor perspective, staying on a working farm offers people a great insight into where their food comes from and what farmers actually do, so as well as having a fantastic, relaxing breaking in some of the most beautiful areas the UK has to offer, they get the opportunity to learn new things and have new experiences.

"We don’t see the popularity of farm-based breaks slowing down any time soon."