FLIGHT bookings by Sidmouth residents will not be affected following the disappearance of an Air France plane this week, local travel agents have predicted. The Airbus, which was carrying 228 people from Brazil to France, vanished over the Atlantic after

FLIGHT bookings by Sidmouth residents will not be affected following the disappearance of an Air France plane this week, local travel agents have predicted.

The Airbus, which was carrying 228 people from Brazil to France, vanished over the Atlantic after flying through a severe storm on Monday sometime after 0214 GMT.

There were five Britons on board the airbus, including an eleven-year-old boy returning to school in Bristol.

Today (Wednesday) officials have confirmed debris spotted off the Brazil coast belongs to the missing airliner.

The plane got into difficulties four hours after leaving Rio de Janeiro. It sent an automatic message reporting a short circuit leading some people to suggest it was damaged by lightning.

If it is confirmed that all of the passengers and crew on the flight are dead, it will be the worst loss of life in Air France's history.

Following the incident, the Herald contacted Sidmouth travel agents to gauge public opinion.

Sharon Clapp, senior consultant of Fleetway Travel, said: "I don't think people will be put off flying.

"It is a very rare occurrence, if you think about the number of flights going up minute by minute and day by day, the chance of this kind of thing happening is remote. It was very tragic."

And she confirmed she had already booked another flight for a customer to Brazil using Air France.

She added: "Obviously it's early days and we don't really know what happened. "There are so many other things going on in the world and British people tend to get on with things, it's that stiff upper lip attitude."

Kirsty Williams, personal Travel Counsellor, said: "I really do not expect it to have an effect on future sales as, although obviously extremely tragic, incidents like this are very isolated.

"As my business is based on personal service and I know my clients very well I am able to provide reassurance and advice to ensure they feel safe and confident to book their holidays.

"It is in these times that the travel industry has to work together to reassure our customers.