HOLIDAY park operator Parkdean Holidays announced a £12.87m operating profit yesterday, despite a drop in bookings in the autumn.

Preliminary results for the year ending October 31 showed like-for-like profits rose 10.2 per cent.

The Newcastle group established a reservations and administration centre on the city's Gosforth Business Park early last year.

The five-year-old company, which runs 20 parks in southern England, Wales and Scotland, added six parks to its portfolio last year.

It suffered a lag in bookings after a major expansion drive delayed publication of this year's catalogue and two parks acquired in 2003 faced their first loss-making winter months.

Chairman Graham Wilson said: "At that point, people are more into Christmas than thinking about holidays."

Parkdean bought sites in Devon, Dorset, Scotland, South Wales and Norfolk from Bourne Leisure for £41.8m and paid £5.3m for a holiday village in south-west Scotland.

This expanded its services from 871 acres, with a total of 6,546 pitches, to 1,315 acres with 9,189 pitches - a 40 per cent rise.

John Waterworth, chief executive, said: "The Parkdean estate has continued to perform well as we reap the benefits of continued investment in our parks."

He said booking patterns since the return from the festive holidays were in line with expectations.

Turnover increased to £60.38m, compared to £51.91m last year, including £3.23m from acquisitions.