Britons thinking of taking the cross channel pilgrimage for cheap booze this Christmas are being reminded to take out car insurance.

According to research from Lloyds TSB, Britons will splash out up to £400 million on alcohol this festive season in a last minute cross channel dash.

The survey also showed that around a third of those planning a quick trip across the sea will spend up to £100 and around another third would spend up to £250.

Lloyds said the favoured destinations for alcohol stock ups, were France (54 per cent), Spain (13 per cent) and Belgium (seven per cent).

Phil Loney managing director Lloyds TSB Insurance said: "With cheap drink available on the Continent it's no surprise so many Brits plan to cross the channel to stock up on booze for the festive season."

However, Mr Loney did warn shoppers about the importance of staying safe on the roads especially if wine tasting is involved.

"Driving abroad on unfamiliar roads with a host of different rules to follow can be risky, so, it's important to be extremely cautious. One of the most important things to consider is insurance. Although it's a must for any driver, when you're driving on foreign roads, especially during the Christmas period, it's even more important that you have adequate cover," he said.