Travel agents in south Essex were today waiting for advice from the Foreign Office on whether to continue to take bookings for Turkey.

It was business as usual today but they were closely monitoring the situation in the light of an escalating terrorist campaign being mounted in the country by Kurdish rebels.

Istanbul was placed on a state of alert today and security was stepped up at tourist sites following a series of terrorist attacks .

Extra police vehicles were stationed outside Istanbul's historical sites, such as the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, where security checks were also tightened at entrances.

The Kurdistan Workers Party has warned that tourists to the popular holiday destination could be caught in the crossfire of its fight for independence. PKK leaders have declared Turkey a war zone, with not even coastal resorts such as Bodrum safe.

They have threatened to increase the group's terrorist attacks until captured PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is released.

Travel agents are closely monitoring developments and will act on Government advice and directives from ABTA, the industry's governing body.

A spokesman for Intatravel, which has outlets in Southend, Basildon, Wickford, Canvey and Rayleigh, said it is warning tourists to be vigilant as advised by the Foreign Office.

She added: "Everything is operating as normal at the moment, but we are closely monitoring the situation."

Steve Birkumscaw, owner of Westcliff Travel Service in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, said: "At the moment we have clients booked to go out there, but we are still waiting for directives from the Foreign Office, tour operators and ABTA on the situation."

A spokesman for Lunn Poly, which has outlets in Basildon, Billericay, Canvey, Rayleigh and Southend, also said it would follow guidance.

Turkey is the second most popular holiday resort for UK families after Majorca.

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