A flash mob surprised passengers at Manchester Airport – by bursting into Cliff Richards' Summer Holiday song.

Hundreds of people flying from the airport were serenaded by singers in duty free at Terminal Two.

The singers burst into their act when the 1963 classic started playing over the speakers.

They encouraged staff and holidaymakers to join in with their routine with many people stopping to take photographs.

The flash mob was organised by travel retailer WDF at the Biza Tax and Duty Free store in the departures lounge.

The firm's head of digital marketing Sue Gosling said the bizarre event was staged to give passengers a 'memorable' start to their summer break.

She said: “We really wanted to create a different and memorable event to celebrate the height of the summer holiday period which also entertained and involved our passengers.

“Nothing captures that holiday feeling better than the classic Summer Holiday song and customers who were indulging in a bit of pre-holiday shopping got something they didn’t bargain for, which will stay in their memory as the perfect start to their summer holiday.”

The surreal phenomenon originated in New York and quickly spread across Europe.

Its aim is to arrange sudden gatherings of people at predetermined locations and times and then disperse quickly, leaving onlookers confused.

It is not the first time that a flash mob has taken place in Manchester.

In June, the M.E.N. reported that around 50 dancers brought shoppers to a standstill in the city centre.

In tribute to Michael Jackson and to mark the first anniversary of his death, a flash mob of dancers and fans performed the iconic Thriller routine in Market Street.