Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a stark warning to anyone planning to head abroad this June, July or August. Countless Brits are eagerly counting down to their summer getaways during the peak holiday season.

Yet Simon has urged everybody to carry out a vital check before departing to avoid "wrecked holidays". The travel expert warned that "thousands upon thousands" of holidaymakers have already been caught out and missed their pre-booked trips. He took part in a discussion on BBC Radio 2, where one traveller recounted how he had been turned away at the boarding gate.

James Luton had been due to fly to Portugal last week to celebrate his 50th birthday, but was refused boarding at the airport gate because his passport had been issued more than 10 years ago, despite it not having expired.

Brits travelling to EU or Schengen zone destinations cannot have passports older than 10 years upon arrival at their holiday destination. The passport must also remain valid for at least three months beyond the date of their planned return.

Simon appeared on the programme to urge those with holidays booked to check their passports before it is too late. He said: "Unfortunately, he [James] is just one of thousands upon thousands of people who have fallen foul of this.

"As we speak, there will be people who have headed to the airport, and the same thing happened to them. It is just absolutely miserable."

Simon urged: "You must remember, if you are going to the EU apart from Ireland, you cannot have a passport older than 10 years on the day you enter. It is the only part of the world that cares about when your passport is issued.

"Everywhere else only cares about the expiry date. Please, if you are going away in June, July and August please check that your passport is going to comply.

"Has it had its 10th birthday on the day you plan to go away, and has it got at least three months left on the date you plan to leave? That way, we can hopefully avoid too many more wrecked holidays."

Prior to 2018, passports could stay valid for up to 10 years and nine months. Unused months from old passports were transferred onto new passports, though the practice was scrapped in 2018.

The issue mainly affects those with burgundy passports, as anyone who has a blue passport obtained it in 2020 or later.

It remains advisable to check children's blue passports, as these are generally only valid for five years.