Some women shun holiday hotspots because of the state of their bodies and it is younger women who are more worried about how they might look on the beach, a poll by travel agency sunshine.co.uk found.
A total of 2,182 British women aged 18 and over were surveyed.
Of these, 21 per cent said they ruled out beach holidays due to a lack of body confidence, with two-fifths of such travellers being aged 18 to 25.
The survey showed that 69 per cent of women either diet or begin a fitness regime in the run-up to a holiday, about two months before travelling. When asked if they felt good in swimwear, just 17 per cent of those taking part said “yes”.
The poll also revealed that 55 per cent of women admitted to checking out other women in swimwear while on holiday, more than they did men. (PA)
Mexican’s hot US reception
An immigrant suspected of entering the US illegally attempted to make his journey in a shipment of red chilli.
US Customs and Border Protection officers working at a New Mexico border checkpoint said the man was discovered face down among a commercial load of the spicy stuff.
Columbus Port Director Robert Reza says next to the “highly intoxicated” 35-year-old was a bottle of tequila. The man, who authorities described as a Mexican national, told agents that he climbed into the commercial hopper while it was being staged in Mexico. He got into the truck-full of chilli in the hope of catching a ride to Chicago, the El Paso Times reported.
He will be returned to Mexico, officials said. (AP)
Lost keys replaced at a cost
Prisons across Britain have spent more than £330,000 (€391,782) changing their locks after their keys were lost, new figures have revealed.
According to the Ministry of Justice, four prisons have spent £337,551 replacing their locks after the keys went missing since the last general election in May 2010.
The four prisons are Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, Glen Parva in Leicestershire, Warren Hill in Suffolk and Birmingham prison, Justice Minister Helen Grant said in a written parliamentary answer. (PA)
Survives in car for three days
A man survived in his car for three days after crashing down a river bank.
Dr Alastair McFadyen, 77, crashed into the River Cur near Cairndow, Argyll, on Thursday, August 29 and was not found until a passer-by spotted the car the following Saturday.
The Daily Record newspaper reported that Dr McFadyen, a retired historian, survived by soaking up water from the outside of the windscreen with a handkerchief and dabbing it on his lips.
Dr McFadyen told The Daily Record: “I made several attempts to call for help, but it didn’t work. The food I’d just bought was in the boot, along with my mobile phone, but I couldn’t get to them.”
The 77-year-old’s friends raised the alarm when he failed to return home but no trace of him was found until police were contacted at around 8pm on the Saturday night. (PA)
Militants threaten Princess
A militant group has issued a threat to the Princess Royal as she visits Argentina.
Anne has travelled to Buenos Aires in her role as a member of the International Olympic Committee and is the first senior member of the royal family to travel to the country on an official visit in 14 years.
Left wing group Quebracho, which wants Britain to surrender the Falkland Islands to Argentina, issued a statement on its website describing the royal as a “pirate princess” and the “daughter of Elizabeth II, the Queen, who ordered the attack on Falklands in 1982”.
It warned that she would have to go into hiding as she is “not welcome” there.
Anne arrived in the capital last night and is expected to stay until September 17. (AP)