MOTORHOMING is the coolest of cool leisure pursuits right now.

Little wonder that sales of these big roam-from-home vehicles have almost doubled within the last five years.

Celebrities like Robbie Williams, Gail Porter and Jamiroquai singer, Jay Kay, have helped push motorhoming way up the popularity charts, and the many British manufacturers who produce motor caravans large and small - there are about 20 all told - are feeling the benefit.

But there's even more good news for the home market - research recently commissioned by Standard Life Bank reveals that sales of motorhomes in Britain will grow by a further 50 per cent to reach 13,000 a year by 2010.

The craze to add a home to the family vehicle has been going for near-on a century, and one of the UK's leading names in early motorhome production, Eccles Motor Caravans, was turning out popular examples in the mid to late 1920s.

Early examples from the firm were based on Henry Ford's all-embracing Model T, and plywood and canvas were often the staple build materials.

Today, motorhomers are a more demanding breed, giving designers the tricky balancing act of providing more space, and more equipment, than Dr Who's Tardis.

The vehicle has to have a big appetite, too, for many kinds of leisure activity, and they need to be versatile enough to suit varied individual tastes and lifestyles.

Family members who face physical disabilities or other challenges also find that motorhomes offer the ideal away-from-it-all holiday, and they are well-served by a range of firms who can offer specialist adaptations.

Vehicles for wheelchair users, for example, have an increasing presence in the motorhomes market and interiors can cater for every type of access need.

A recent clutch of new models, from leading UK names such as the Explorer Group, and Auto-Sleepers, have also shown that designs are capable of crossing age boundaries, from the ultra-chic young generation to the early-retirement age group.

In particular, it is the 50s age group that is in the vanguard of the mobile leisure renaissance, evidenced by the growing number of park full' signs going up at the sites of Britain's two main clubs, The Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club. The clubs are also reporting record membership intake, plus, massive use of their related travel services.

It is understandable, says industry organisation the Motorhomes Information Service (MIS).

An MIS spokesman said: "Motorhomes know few boundaries - they're not just holidays or a getaway weekend.

"They're also used for mid-life gap years, six-month Spanish sojourns, and are quite definitely the leisure multi-tasker. The usage list for a motorhome use is endless."

Any prospective newcomers to the roamer lifestyle can request a free copy of the MIS magazine, Horizons. For a copy, or to see factfiles on hiring, insurance, shows, clubs to join, plus the latest motorhome dealer and manufacturer list, visit the MIS website on www.motorhomeinfo.co.uk.

You can also telephone the MIS on 01444 458 889, or email infomotorhomeinfo.co.uk