Kent could cash in from Olympics-phobia as well as mania, according to a holiday firm.

Park Holidays UK, which has six parks on the Kent coast, claims families fleeing London during the sporting extravaganza in late July, August and early September could create a tourism boom for the county.

The firm reports a sharp rise in bookings compared with this time last year - and suspects "Olympic-phobia" is partly responsible.

UK director Tony Clish said: "Everyone's looking forward to the Games themselves, but not to the prospect of staying in the already-congested capital during July and August.

"The high volume of London postcodes on our Kent bookings suggests that many families are planning to swap the razzmatazz of the event for more relaxing surroundings.

"Around eight million people live in London, and just a small percentage of those deciding to get away during the event will provide a big tourism boost to the county."

Mr Clish added many overseas visitors will have seen reports about London being "swamped" with visitors during the Games and will want to stay outside the capital.

But he promises the parks - Alberta (Whitstable), Harts (Sheppey), Marlie Farm (New Romney), New Beach (Dymchurch), Seaview (Swalecliffe), and Sheerness Holiday Park - will not be Olympic-free zones.

"We will be going all-out to celebrate the event along with the rest of the country, and there will be wide-screen TVs in all our clubs so that no one need miss the action. All our guests will be missing is London's crowds and inflated prices - while helping to spread the economic benefits of the Olympics to Kent."

Meanwhile, VisitKent, the tourism promotion partnership, expects many overseas visitors with - or without - Olympic tickets to base themselves in the county and travel daily to the sporting venues.

The University of Kent has already booked hundreds of rooms on its campus for Germans with tickets.