The money will accelerate an ambitious development plan for the parc, which will include a five-fold increase in holiday home pitches, to more than 500.

We are planning to improve Domaine de Litteau’s facilities to the highest standard of four-stars and to accommodate up to 2,000 people, making the parc an important centre for tourism in the region of Calvados.

New developments will include a covered swimming complex, tennis courts, sauna and steam room, a multi-sports pitch and gym.

Domaine de Litteau will become one of France’s most environmentally friendly holiday parcs, with rigorous energy conservation and tree management plans. We have already completed a reed-bed sewage treatment pond to naturally purify waste from the parc.

We have invested heavily since acquiring Domaine de Litteau in 2007, with upgrades to facilities including a semi-permanent cover for the swimming pool, a new aquatic area for toddlers, developments to the bar, grocery store and takeaway, and the creation of 75 new mobile home pitches.

Around 100 families, approx 40% from the UK, have already bought their own holiday homes at Domaine de Litteau, tempted by the beauty of the surrounding region and proximity to the ferry port at Caen.

Domaine de Litteau general manager Jef Soucy says that ultimately, the equivalent of 50 new full time jobs will be created following this investment, with 17 new jobs already introduced since siblu took over the parc.

Christophe performed his song with an 18-piece symphony orchestra, as part of rehearsals for the classical music concert, which takes place each year on the beach at Royan.

The Equinoxe bar at Les Charmettes was transformed into a rehearsal room for world famous performers including Nemanja RADULOVITCH (violin), Vanessa WAGNER (piano) and Janja VULETIC (mezzo).

Les Charmettes, La Pignade and Bonne Anse Plage are sponsors of the prestigious event.

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The frogs are out in Charente Maritime, which local tradition decrees is a sign that August will be hot (this method seems at least as accurate as the Met Office!)

Indeed, Charente Maritime is officially the sunniest part of France after the south coast, so a holiday here is sure to shine.

We still have accommodation at La Pignade holiday parc in August. For a family, staying seven nights from 14 August, accommodation with Dover/Calais ferries is available from just £1,145.

Slightly further north is the Vendée, which is also looking promising according to weather forecasts, hitting highs of 29oC in the next few days. A seven night stay at Le Bois Dormant for a family from 10 August is available from £1,121 with Dover to Calais ferries.

And there’s still a smattering of availability of the south coast, where it will be hot, hot, hot.

Le Montourey on the Côte d’Azur has two-bedroom holiday homes from 18 August, with prices from £1,038 for a family with Dover to Calais ferries.

Tourers can also find a deal on the south coast, with Les Sables du Midi on Languedoc offering pitches for seven nights from 14 August for just £482, with Dover/Calais ferries included.

So don’t pack away thoughts on burnt sausages and black burgers just yet, you can still enjoy a barbecue summer.

Alarig, head of entertainments at Pierres Couchees, has invited great groups from France’s west coast to perform on the parc’s outdoor stage.

There are 12 groups covering French pop, rock and even punk. Bands appearing include Drunken Butterfly (pop & indie, 18 July), Voxcivilian (rock fusion, 25 July), Cabassa (afrobeat, hip-hop, 1 August), Goodbye Juliet (electro pop, 5 August), Les Vieilles Margattes (French pop, 8 August), Justine & Dolores Riposte (punk rock, 12 August), Cirkus Palace (rock, 15 August), Users (hip hop’n'roll, 19 August), Vladivostok (disco punk, 22 August), Le Pied de la Pompe (French pop, 26 August) and Ad Libe (pop, 29 August).