Summertime blues for big holiday firm

♦ Summer holidays are not taken in September or October, the Advertising Standards Agency has ruled, as it fined travel operator TUI over a television advert.

The advert featured a voiceover stating: “Discover Turkey with TUI from £279 per person this summer… Perfect summer holidays that put you in the middle.”

The price, on-screen text said, applied to departures between Sept 1 and Oct 31.

The watchdog said the period was “unlikely to align” with consumers’ understanding of the term “summer holiday” and was therefore misleading.

A TUI spokesman said: “We’ve already taken action to amend this advert for future use.”