Bargain cottage breaks in England costing as little as £10 per person per day are up for grabs as operators slash prices to fill their properties in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis.

As well as discounts of up to 50 per cent in August, Cumbrian Cottages is, for the first time, allowing short-break rentals of three days rather than the normal week-long summer rental period to try to attract travellers.

Other companies, including National Trust Cottages and Helpful Holidays, which operates in the West Country, have discounts of 10 per cent on some properties.

David Hogarth, owner of Cumbrian Cottages, said: 'Discounting for the school holidays is normally unheard of. Business is coming back, but it has been very slow.'

He said the deals were needed to fill up cottages in Cumbria and the Lake District, which are normally 90 per cent full at this time of the year, but only have occupancy lev els of 60 per cent. The worst-hit areas, and therefore those with most availability, are Carlisle and the Eden Valley, he added.

The company has one-bedroom cottages from £90 for three days, and two-bedroom properties from £120. Based on four people, that works out at £30 per person for three days. Last week, cottages normally costing £420 for a week were being offered at £240 and similar discounts are available throughout August.

Helpful Holidays said it had a list of properties carrying a 10 per cent discount. For example, a five-star cottage sleeping four on Dartmoor has 10 per cent off the £831 price for a week from 1 August.

'It is unusual to discount at this time of the year,' said a spokeswoman. 'But there has been a huge rush at the last minute for properties.'

Cumbrian Cottages: 01228 599960

Helpful Holidays: 01647 433 593

National Trust Holiday Cottage: 0870 458 4422