OVERSEAS holidays may be allowed from May 17 'at the earliest' Boris Johnson has announced.

Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, the Prime Minister set out his roadmap for easing coronavirus restrictions - stating that hotels can reopen and foreign travel will be potentially permitted from May 17.

Meanwhile, UK holidays and overnight stays in self-contained accommodation that does not require the shared use of facilities will be allowed from as early as April 12.

The travel industry has expressed relief at the prospect of people in England being allowed to take summer holidays.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, who co-founded the Save Our Summer campaign, said this was 'the news the travel sector really wanted'.

He said: "I'm sure virtually everyone in the travel sector will be pleased with the greater clarity and a timeframe of May for enabling those who've been vaccinated to travel overseas.

"By then, there will be over 16 million people eligible to travel abroad to see family, or for business or leisure, in a safe and responsible way.

"It means more consumers can be reassured that their 2021 summer trip can take place, or they can get a refund or refix their travel date.

"They can book knowing that this summer will be even safer than last.

"We will need to see the finer details in the future reviews for the sector's restart but the Prime Minister's comments are certainly far more positive and realistic than those made by some ministers just two weeks ago."