South Lakeland has been ranked as one of the biggest holiday home hotspots in the country.

The study by Howden Insurance used data from the Office for National Statistics to locate the regions across England and Wales with the highest ratio of holiday homes to residential properties.

The Westmorland and Furness area ranked sixth, with 1,745 holiday homes out of 55,855 total residences, approximately 3.1 per cent.

Top of the list was the Isles of Scilly with five per cent of its 1,300 dwellings categorised as holiday lets.

South Hams, a district on the south coast of Devon, ranked second with its 2,050 holiday homes making up 4.4 per cent of 46,525 residences.

Gwynedd in northwest Wales took third spot, hosting 2,590 holiday homes out of 63,220 residences, equating to 4.1 per cent.

In fourth place was North Norfolk, where there are 2,195 holiday homes to 56,680 total residences, which results in a percentage of 3.9 per cent.

The study also revealed the Isle of Anglesey, Scarborough, Pembrokeshire, Isle of Wight, and King’s Lynn and West Norfolk as part of the top 10.

A spokesperson from Howden Insurance said: "These insights highlight the popularity of holiday home ownership across England and Wales and identify the areas where current property owners would benefit from letting their home out this holiday season.

"The data also reflects the growing interest in holiday home rentals, offering families and individuals diverse accommodation options.

"Findings like these not only shed light on housing patterns but also offer valuable information for prospective holidaymakers seeking varied accommodation choices."

The study comes as the appeal of holiday homes grows in both England and Wales, with many individuals opting to stay in properties that are rented out sporadically throughout the year.