Silvio Berlusconi revealed yesterday that Tony Blair is to holiday with his family at his villa in Sardinia.

The Blairs are to return to Italy on holiday after a four-year gap by staying briefly at the "James Bond-style lair" on the Costa Smeralda.

According to the Italian prime minister, Blair and his family will spend August 16 and 17 with him.

Berlusconi insisted at a meeting of deputies of his Forza Italia party that he was "reinforcing the special rapport I have with my English counterpart".