Counting the cost as holidays end

No sooner have the school gates reopened and the children are back at their desks than the credit card bills for a summer of fun land on the doormat.

During July, more than £8 billion was spent on credit cards - with £5.2 million going on entry to amusement parks as parents struggled to keep their children occupied.

Spending on amusement parks was almost £1.5 million more than during the months of both April and May, figures from the Credit Card Research Group show.

Matthew Whittaker, a research analyst with the group, said much of the July and August spending was down to holidays. He said: "Spending is high in these months thanks to people going on holiday. We ' ll probably see the figures going even higher in August but falling back in the autumn."

Now the harsh reality of summer excesses may hit some parents hard. As the credit card bills begin to arrive, debt helplines are preparing for a flurry of calls. A spokeswoman for the Consumer Credit Counselling Service said calls peak twice a year: in February when the bills for Christmas and the January sales arrive and in September after the summer holidays have taken their toll.

"The problems are mainly caused when people are abroad," she said. "But there is also the problem of spending on children, not only when on holiday but at home as well.

"It is this time of year when people can realise debt is a problem and need a bit of help to get through it. What we would say is: use this time now to pay off bills and save up for Christmas as that is not far off either."

A report for the Abbey National shows the average summer holiday can set parents back £1,200 per child in outings and childcare.

When parents are not at work, they spend up to £100 on trips to the zoo, theme parks and the cinema. And when they go back to work, they spend a similar amount on childcare.

The Evening Standard followed two families over the holiday to see how much they spent .