WINTER SUN SPOTLIGHT

Brits wanting to escape the dreary UK winter in favour of sunnier shores often dream of Bali or Thailand, but travel experts say there's one "underrated" country emerging as a strong rival thanks to its palm-fringed soft sand beaches and beautiful scenery.

- By JULIE DELAHAYE

Sri Lanka is by no means a hidden gem, but it has been enjoying a popularity boost in recent months, with Travel Republic reporting a 72% surge of demand for holidays to the South Asian country in the last month alone.

Over on social media, influencers have been sharing their experiences of travelling around the country, with fans quickly jumping in the comments and describing it as the "most magical place ever".