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Home improvement projects are more important than summer holidays and should be a homeowners top priority, according to an industry expert.

Andrew Leech, director of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC), claims that many Britons are delaying important DIY projects and going on expensive summer holidays instead.

"People are thinking about going away on holiday and not spending as much money on DIY improvements," Mr Leech commented.

"But that is rather a negative approach because really home improvements should take priority over holidays," he added.

Mr Leech also observed that Britons who undertake DIY projects nowadays are ""concentrating more on their gardens" and are spending less time on their homes.

His comments come just a month after Santander Mortgages revealed that first-time buyers are spending twice as much redecorating their properties than homeowners in the 1970s. According to figures quoted by Money News, people spend an average of £3,782 on decorating and furnishing new properties.

There is no doubting the importance of home improvement projects and the fulfilment they can bring. For instance, simple DIY improvements such as re-tiling the bathroom and fitting new roman blinds in the sitting room can make a big difference to a home's appearance and can give a real feeling of achievement. 

However, there are sure to be many who would disagree with Mr Leech's claims. With work-related stress and working hours increasing all the time, British homeowners can perhaps be excused for putting off their DIY projects for a couple of months and jetting off to warmer climates instead.