British Embassies reveal tourists' bizarre demands

The Foreign Office has given British holidaymakers a little slap on the wrist after revealing some of the rather odd enquiries received by its overseas staff.

It has issued a statement reminding travellers that British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates are only able to help with overseas emergencies, not to give out Phil Collins’ phone number or Prince Charles’ shoe size (yes, they were genuine enquiries). Other bizarre calls received by Foreign Office staff include:

• A Brit in Sofia who asked the Consulate to help sell his house

• A man in Florida who called the Consulate to report that there were ants in his holiday villa and what he should do

• A man who asked a Consulate in Greece how to put a chicken coop in his garden

• A man who asked Consular staff in Dubai to meet his dog on arrival at customs and help it through the customs process, as he would be on holiday when the dog arrived

• A caller in Malaga in mid-September who asked where she could get a Christmas lunch as everywhere she had phoned was already booked up.

Minister for consular affairs Jeremy Browne said: ‘Our priority is to help people in real difficulty abroad and we cannot do this if our time is diverted by people trying to use us as a concierge service.’