The Foreign Office today advised Britons against all travel to north and east Sri Lanka following armed attacks in these areas.

Anyone already in the areas should consider leaving, the FO added.

The warning came after an escalation of fighting between Government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka.

Previously, the FO had advised against all but essential travel to the violence-hit regions.

Today, the FO changed its advice to say: "We advise against all but essential travel to the north or east of Sri Lanka. This covers all areas north of the A12 road (which runs from Puttalam in the west to Trincomalee in the east) including the Jaffna peninsula; and all of the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee, as well as coastal areas of Ampara district north of Pottuvil."

The past few days has seen some of the heaviest fighting since the two sides signed a Norwegian-brokered truce in 2002.