Holiday special: Spidey-hi summer

SCI-FI superheroes, children's cuddly favourites and top entertainers are appearing at Britain's holiday parks this summer...to make sure YOU have a great time.

Here's a round-up of all the fun that's on offer...

Throughout the school holidays PONTIN'S (call 08706 045629 or check out www.pontins.co.uk) have a Who Wants to be a Super Hero? show starring Spider Man.

As well as the live action, there will also be an interactive Spider Quiz and children will have the chance to meet and be pictured with their super-powered idol.

The shows are at Pontin's six self-catering centres: Brean Sands (Somerset); Camber Sands (East Sussex); Hemsby (Norfolk); Prestatyn Sands (North Wales); Southport (Lancashire) and Wall Park (Devon).

there's free, fully-supervised quad biking, climbing, abseiling, trampolining, snorkelling, fencing and stunt kite flying (not all activities are available at all centres). Younger children can enjoy Captain Croc's Adventureland.

A week's self-catering can cost less than pounds 11 per person per night. Seven nights self-catering between July 19 and September 2 is pounds 299 with four sharing a one-bedroom apartment.

It's a case of "Lights, Camera, Action" at PARK RESORTS (08701 299 299 or www.park-resorts.com) with the new Encore Tonight show featuring the best in music and film. This glamorous extravaganza is staged like a star-spangled Hollywood awards ceremony and it's topping the bill at 10 parks this summer. Songs and routines from Moulin Rouge and Saturday Night Fever are just some of the treats in store for holidaymakers. Kids needn't feel left out either as Park Resorts mascot Sparky, best mate Sparkle and the rest of Sparky's Krew have their own spoof version set in a film studio.

Prices for a seven-night break in a caravan sleeping seven at Cayton Bay Holiday Park near Scarborough, start at pounds 288 for the week beginning July 20 - a saving of pounds 85 on the current brochure price

Park Resorts have parks at Cayton Bay near Scarborough; Barmston Beach, Yorkshire; Heacham Beach, California Cliffs and Kessingland Beach in East Anglia; Ashcroft, Kent; Nodes Point, Lower Hyde and Thorness Bay on the Isle of Wight; Bideford Bay, Devon; Carmarthen Bay, Brynowen near Aberystwyth and Ty Mawr, near Rhyl.

If you prefer staying in hotels, WARNER HOLIDAYS (0870 601 6011 or www.warnerholidays.co.uk) have 13 around the country at locations ranging from sandy beaches on the Isle of Wight to Sherwood Forest in Notts. Cricket St Thomas Hotel in Somerset even has its own wildlife park with lemurs and leopards. Holme Lacy House Hotel in Hereford has its own haunted rooms. All of the properties have fully-fitted gyms and swimming pools and most of the hotels have health and beauty centres.

Prices for a three-night break at one of the seaside classic resorts start from pounds 85 per person. Breaks are on a half-board basis and include all entertainment and most leisure facilities.

Would-be David Beckhams will find the multi-sports courts at BRITISH HOLIDAYS (0870 242 5678 or www.british-holidays.co.uk) perfect for honing goal-scoring techniques. And parents can net a bargain to with savings of up to 65 per cent. You can also play tennis, bowls and golf or try danceation - a combination of dance and fitness.

Rockley Park, Dorset, features a sailing and watersports school and Greenacres in North Wales has Ropeworks, a climbing activity centre.

Haggerston Castle, near Berwick- on-Tweed on the Scottish border, has its own riding stables and is offering savings of up to pounds 107 on a week's holiday at the end of July.

Both HAVEN HOLIDAYS (0870 242 2222 or www.haven-holidays.com) and sister company British Holidays are perfect for tots, with parks near some of Britain's brightest resorts and most beautiful beaches.

There are high chairs as well as facilities to warm baby food in the restaurants. Doors are wide enough to cope with buggies and there are lots of ramps as well as steps.

There's the PAWS club for under- fives, with a full range of activities, from Story With Rory, to painting and crafts. Some of their bigger parks have nursery sections with soft play equip- ment, toys, games and kids videos. The Rory caravan even has jungle decor and paw print duvets.

Prices start at just pounds 89 for a four-night break for up to six sharing including family entertainments and use of the leisure pool.

Booking a holiday at BUTLINS (0870 242 087 or www.butlins.co.uk) has become even easier. The firm's website has been totally updated and visitors can book the break of their choice online while browsing though all the new attractions at centres in Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness.

Butlins fans can tour the resort, find out all the latest news and special offers,enjoy a series of fun new interactive games for the kids, and even find out all the trials and tribulations of being a Redcoat.

As with the Butlins brochure, would-be holidaymakers are helped with the U, PG and 18 classification system - ensuring you visit at the best time for the ages, entertainment requirements and mix of people in your party.

Prices for a seven-night break in the summer season start from pounds 105 per person in July, based on four people sharing a self- catering studio apartment in Skegness, July 5-12 (Minehead pounds 107, Bognor Regis pounds 120 for the same dates).For children over eight

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