Travel agents across Sussex have reported a lull in holiday bookings since the terror strikes in the United States.

Many agencies said a large number of people were reluctant to book flights because of continuing fears over safety.

Ian Butters, director of Madison Travel in Western Road, Hove, said bookings had slumped by half compared to the same period last year.

He said: "Business is hard at the moment. We had one lady who cancelled her trip to New York due in November and another who had planned a trip to Glasgow on Wednesday.

"In addition, we have no new business coming in. The holiday market has gone dead. Usually around this time, people want a quick week away but people are simply not coming through the door."

He said: "It's very similar to what happened during the Gulf War when the market slumped for about three weeks.

"It all depends on what happens in the near future. I just hope the situation changes."

Maggie Colton, of Panorama Travel in Station Road, Portslade, said: "We have continued to book people on flights to the States and so far nobody has cancelled their Middle East holidays with us.

"But it is very quiet at the moment and most people are waiting to see what happens."

She said the agency had received an increase in bookings for cruises and coach trips and believed many people would stick to local destinations. She also predicted the American domestic flight market would be worst-affected by the disaster.

She added: "I think that in the short-term people will be more reluctant to book to the Middle East although it's still very early days. There was the same dip following the Oklahoma bombing a few years ago. It lasted a month and then everything calmed down again.

"I am hoping and praying the same thing happens again. If nothing happens, people will just carry on as normal. People have to go about their business."

A spokeswoman for Elizabeth Bridge Travel in Portland Road, Hove, said: "We have had one cancellation from a couple travelling to the United States in December.

"Bookings did go quiet for a couple of days but things have picked up this week.

"We've had a few people looking for last-minute deals to the Caribbean islands and those sorts of destinations.

"I still think it's a bit early to predict how it will turn out.

"It largely depends on what the Americans do next.

"If nothing happens I am sure people will carry on as normal."