Downing Street has denied claims that controversial comments by the Italian prime minister earlier this month prompted a change in holiday destination for the Blair family.

The news came after a German government spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had cancelled his summer holiday in Italy and instead will remain in Hanover.

Schroeder's announcement coincided with calls by the German interior minister for an Italian official to be sacked, after branding German tourists as "hyper nationalist" arrogant blondes, and came after prime minister Silvio Berlusconi compared a German MEP to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

The prime minister and his family have famously been linked with the Italian region of Tuscany where they have stayed on many occasions, including at the villa of former paymaster general Geoffrey Robinson.

This year the Blairs are rumoured to be staying at the palatial Barbados mansion of rock legend Sir Cliff Richard.

Number 10 rejected claims that Tony Blair's plans were influenced by the spat on the continent or differences with the Italian leader.

"The prime minister made his plans a few months ago so it would be amazing foresight at the very least," said a Downing Street spokesman.

"That's not the reason why the prime minister isn't going to Italy this summer."