The hourly cost of buying guaranteed holiday sunshine in some of Europe’s holiday hotspots could be cheaper than taking a break in rain-sodden Morecambe, once known as Bradford-by-the-sea, says a leading travel firm.

Yeadon-based holiday operator Jet2holidays.com says it can offer guaranteed sun at popular overseas resorts from just £2.98 an hour.

In contrast, it calculates that by going to Morecambe, one of the top five wettest UK resorts with an average holiday cost of £171 and an average six hours of summer sun a day, the “sun cost” would work out at more than £4 an hour.

Jet2 has teamed up with meteorologist Jonathan Powell, senior weather forecaster at Positive Weather Solutions, to work out its best “pound per sun” holiday deals, naming five top summer hotspots.

Using statistics for June, July and August, the tour operator says that a seven-day break to the Algarve, which boasts 11 hours of 27.5 degrees centigrade of sunshine a day, offers a bargain £2.98 per hour “sun rate”

Other top hotspots and their hourly cost of sun are Turkey (£3.70), Majorca (£3.80), Costa del Sol (£4) and Corfu (£4.80).

The cost has been calculated by dividing total weekly sunshine hours by the average holiday cost per person based on seven days in four-star self- catering accommodation.

The UK statistics are based on average costs for a seven-day self-catering break.

It has used the same calculations to give an indication of predicted weather conditions holidaymakers can expect if they stay in the UK. With an average British holiday costing £191 for six hours of sunshine a day, the most expensive would be at Tenby at £4.50 per hour.

Lucy Black, marketing manager at Jet2holidays.com, said: “While we’re not criticising British holidays, the UK is notorious for bad weather.

“Therefore, we developed this simple comparison, which allows holidaymakers to make an informed decision on this year’s summer holiday.”

Forecaster Jonathan Powell, said: “After a run of two poor summers in the UK, going abroad for your holidays this year is still by far the best option for people seeking reliable sunshine.”

But sun-seekers may not have to go abroad this year if long range forecasts from the Met Office are correct. They are pointing to a scorching summer, with temperatures of 30 degrees centigrade and above.