Older people wishing to take in foreign climes on their holidays are being held back by the prohibitive cost of travel cover.

According to the Mail on Sunday, travel insurance gets more costly with age as a result of the increased likelihood of making a claim.

This is causing problems for a number of would-be wanderers who are unable to address the extra costs associated with going abroad.

However, some specialist insurers do offer cover for older travellers or those with established medical conditions, such as InsureCancer.

Dr Krish Shastri, spokesperson for the firm, comments: "A lot of people give up after being rejected by high street insurers, but appropriate cover is available from specialist insurers."

The news follows the publication of a review of discrimination law which, in a move welcomed by the Association of British Insurers, ruled that it was fair for insurance firms to set premiums based in part on age and gender.