National Express has teamed up with publishing house Choc Lit and it’s proving just the ticket for holidaymakers seeking to take flight from this summer's British rain.

National Express’ summer airport campaign, sees the UK’s largest coach operator giving away free beach reads on selected services, including those departing from Birmingham Coach Station.

Free reads include romantic novel ‘The Penny Bangle’ by Margaret James.

National Express customers will get the chance to thumb-through Margaret’s page-turner, which follows the adventures of Margaret’s Birmingham-born heroine as she reluctantly leaves the city to become a land girl at the height of the Second World War as books are placed on selected services in August.

In total, hundreds of ‘holiday reads’ are being offered on selected services to the four major London airports, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted.

The books, which are published by award-winning independent publishing house Choc Lit, will be also be placed on routes departing from other key locations.

Holidaymakers will be able to enjoy a range of romantic titles such as ‘The Penny Bangle ’, which is ideal for the beach or as a bedtime page-turner at the hotel.

Margaret said: “They say a good book takes you on a journey and so it’s fitting National Express is offering free books on airport services this summer”.

Andrew Cleaves, Managing Director, National Express Coach, said: “Travellers choosing National Express this summer will find their holidays start when they board as we give away hundreds of beach reads on airport services. We know our passengers enjoy a good read so we’ve selected some of the best new titles on offer.”

Mr Cleaves added: “People travelling by coach avoid the stress of finding the airport, looking for luggage space on a train and the cost of car parking. We take you direct to the airport door and operate services from all major towns and cities around the clock to coincide with departure and arrival times.”

National Express offer coach services to all major UK airports, dropping passengers directly off at their terminal, saving holidaymakers the hassle and expense of the car.

National Express run coaches right to the airport door almost 24 hours a day meaning customers can take advantage of services, whatever time their flight.

The titles on offer also include Juliet Archer’s The Importance of Being Emma , Sue Moorcroft’s Love & Freedom and All That Mullarkey , Christine Stovell’s Move Over Darling , and Liz Harris’ debut The Road Back.