A new online travel service has been launched to offer destinations, bookings and holiday advice to families.

The website, www.takethefamily.com is supported by lastminute.com and holiday specialists, Real Holidays and includes a wide range of options from adventure holidays to trips to the theatre.

Co-founder and director, Andy Cook, said: “We developed this service because we found as parents that there was a real gap in the market for a comprehensive, online, family-friendly holiday website.

“The growth in internet use and particularly the rapid expansion in broadband households, makes online holiday booking the natural choice for the future. Online travel sales grew by 61 per cent in 2002 and 35 per cent in 2003, so this is definitely a growing trend and Britain is leading the field with families increasingly turning to the internet to research and book their holidays.”

In addition to offering booking services for flights, accommodation and car hire, the site also provides advice on family-friendly destinations, what to bring, what to buy and what games to play on the way there. It even suggests children read Swallows and Amazons before a trip to the Lake District. Details: www.takethefamily.com