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BASQUE separatist group ETA says it is extending its terrorist campaign to Spanish tourist areas all year round.

In a letter to operators and agents, it reportedly warned of a widening out of the campaign from the summer season.

But two of the UK's largest operators to Spain, TUI and MyTravel, both said they had not been sent the letter.

ABTA also said it had not received any notification from members of any threatening letters received from ETA.

A spokesman said: "ETA always sends out warning letters to operators. We obviously take the warning seriously as the safety of customers is our number one priority. However, with all the heightened security measures in Spain during the main season, we have been fortunate not to have had any serious incidents which have had an impact on demand and as result the threats are not a serious worry."

Spanish Tourist Office director Manuel Butler echoed this, saying ETA had been making these threats since 1996 and was not worried about an impact on visitor numbers.

He said: "For 2003, visitor numbers were up 10%, with 16 million visitors. I think we have to put things in context, which is that we are living in an international terrorism situation and it is very easy to threaten.

“We have to be very conscious not to publish the terrorist threat because it gives them free publicity."

The Foreign Office has slightly amended its advice, saying visitors should be alert.