ruined

The village of Tintern in Monmouthshire, Wales, is a traveller favourite and is known for the majestic ruined abbey that sits in the centre of the village

Wales is renowned for its picturesque villages and breathtaking landscapes, but there’s one Welsh village that stands out from the rest.

Tintern, nestled in the heart of the stunning Wye Valley and hugging the west bank of the River Wye in Monmouthshire, is a sight to behold. The village is famed for its awe-inspiring ruined abbey, which sits majestically at its centre, making it a favourite among travellers.

The modern-day Tintern we see today is the result of two historically rich villages merging – Chapel Hill, forming the southern end, and Tintern Parva, making up the northern end. Since 1976, it has been a designated Conservation Area and underwent a name change in 2022 from Tintern to Wye Valley, along with some boundary alterations.

Despite its small size, Tintern holds immense historical significance. The star attraction is undoubtedly Tintern Abbey, a shining beacon in the celebrated Wye Valley.

Its stunning gothic architecture, complete with pointed arches, lancet windows, and ribbed vaults, leaves many visitors awestruck at first sight. Over the centuries, the magnificent ruins of this Cistercian monastery have enchanted visitors and inspired countless travellers, reports Wales Online.

Tintern, a village steeped in history and industrial heritage, has made its mark on the world in several significant ways. The Abbey Forge, nestled within this quaint village, is renowned as the birthplace of British brass production and was instrumental in pioneering wire manufacturing on an industrial scale.

Notably, it was here at Tintern’s Abbey Forge that the first transatlantic cable was crafted.

Today, Tintern serves as a popular destination for walkers and cycling enthusiasts, with numerous long-distance trails and circular routes either starting or passing through the village. A vast network of local footpaths crisscrosses the area, intersecting with two major long-distance paths: the Wye Valley Walk on the Welsh side and Offa’s Dyke path on the English side.

The charming St Mary the Virgin chapel on Chapel Hill is a favourite amongst tourists, and the village also boasts the award-winning Parva Farm Vineyard. Another must-visit spot in Tintern is the medieval church of St Michael in Tintern Parva.

Adding to the village’s attractions is the Tintern railway station, located just a mile’s walk above Tintern. Although passenger services ceased in 1959, the station remains operational as a bustling tourist centre.

As a dog-friendly village, visitors are welcome to bring their furry friends along when visiting any of Tintern’s numerous pubs and cafes, where they’re guaranteed a warm reception.

Getting to the village is straightforward, with the number 69 Wye Valley bus providing hourly services from both Monmouth and Chepstow.

Tintern Abbey

By the 18th century, Tintern Abbey had already become a must-see attraction as part of the Wye Tour along the river – and for good reason.

Most notably, Tintern Abbey inspired poems by literary giants such as William Wordsworth and Alfred Lord Tennyson, and was even the subject of breathtaking paintings by artist JMW Turner.

Tintern Abbey was first established on May 9, 1131, during the reign of King Henry I, by Walter de Clare alongside the river. The abbey was the second Cistercian foundation in Britain (following Waverley Abbey) and the first in Wales.

Initially, the abbey was simply a complex of timber buildings. However, between 1270 and 1301, it underwent reconstruction and was completely rebuilt.

The current remains at Tintern Abbey are a mix of architectural works spanning several centuries and its present-day remnants reflect this diverse architectural history. Once it was rebuilt, around four hundred monks, who originally came from a daughter house of Cîteaux in France, lived in the complex.

For four centuries, Tintern Abbey was a powerhouse in the local economy, with its land divided into farming units or granges. The locals worked the land and served the abbey and its many visitors, making it an integral part of Tintern village’s history and culture.

However, the abbey ceased operations following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. In a more recent development, Cadw took over the management of Tintern Abbey in 1984.

By the late 18th century, tourism had begun to flourish in the Wye Valley, with many visitors travelling along the river to see the abbey and other scenic spots in the famous region. The poet William Wordsworth was one such visitor in 1798, and he wrote the well-known Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey during his visit.

The construction of the turnpike road (now known as the A466) through the valley in 1829, followed by the arrival of the Wye Valley Railway in the 1870s, led to a significant increase in visitor numbers. This established tourism as the bedrock of Tintern’s economy, a legacy that continues to this day.

Today, Tintern Abbey attracts approximately 70,000 visitors each year, who travel from near and far to marvel at the stunning beauty of the historic abbey.

The ‘jewel of the Cotswolds’, which featured in Bridget Jones’ Diary, is facing new rules that have divided locals

Some residents of the picturesque Cotswolds village, Snowshill, which famously featured in ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’, have voiced their concerns over new stringent planning regulations. These rules would require them to seek council permission for even minor alterations such as installing a patio.

Snowshill, often dubbed the ‘jewel of the Cotswolds’, was showcased in the 2001 film with its lush greenery and a local house serving as the home of Bridget Jones‘s parents. However, this week, the village falls under an Article 4 Direction by Tewkesbury Borough Council, strict rules designed to protect its heritage.

This means almost any work or modifications to buildings must be approved by the council, including installing patios or changing the colour of an exterior wall. Other changes requiring approval include replacing exterior windows and doors, constructing porches, installing roof lights or altering roofing materials, creating or replacing hard surfaces in gardens.

Residents will also need approval to erect gates, fences, or walls, paint the exterior of buildings a new colour or install or alter antennae or solar panels, reports Gloucestershire Live. Some locals have expressed their worries that the new rules are too costly and restrictive, while others believe they have been implemented too late.

Rose, a resident in her 40s who moved to Snowshill four years ago with her family, opposes the plans, describing them as “too controlling”. “I did write an objection but it has gone through anyway,” she expressed. ”It is very prohibitive in terms of what you can do to your home.” She explained that when they purchased the property, it was derelict so they had to refurbish it to make it “habitable”.

“It has been a very painfully process. If now we want to do a fence it feels like we have already climbed a hill.” For Rose, the larger issue is the influx of tourists who “cross the line”. She said: “Tourism is changing the character of the village, not the house changes” she stated. “Preserving the village for tourists is not the best logic.”

Kim, a resident of 40 years, had mixed feelings about the regulations. She questioned the effectiveness of the plans, asking: “How are they going to regulate it? Unless somebody complains.”

She added: “If you have got young children and if something happens to your fence why do you have to go through planning when all you want is to keep your child and the people around you safe. You can’t change your front door, but what if it is damaged? It costs you more to put planning in on Article 4 than planning application.

“I can see that people want to keep it a Cotswolds village but you’ve got to have a balance, but I think people will do whatever they want to their houses.” Sheila Wilks, 85, and her husband Peter, 84, believe the plans are a step in the right direction, but lament that their village has already been ‘ruined’ by holiday lets.

Mrs Wilks said: “They have come too late. They have ruined the village. I have been here all my life 80 years and I just think people abused it.

“I hate change and I think we should preserve what we’ve got. Because we are in such a beautiful place people should keep it like this.”

Their quaint cottage was once the old village shop where Sheila, her mum and siblings were born. In 1965, they purchased the house and have never left since.

However, home renovations aren’t the only issue the couple faces – following films such as Bridget Jones, the couple said the landscape “has changed” and so they want to “preserve” the village.

Mr Wilks stated: “Most of the houses here are Airbnbs. It is disgusting. There are at least 12 Airbnbs in the village. We get about four mini buses a day. They do tend to block the roads occasionally.

“It was all working class people but now it doesn’t seem to be that way at all. It does break up communities.”

Paul, 66, and Sue Brereton, 66, who have resided in their cottage for eight years, agreed with the implementation of the regulations. Mr Brereton said: “It is a very good idea and we wished it had come five years ago. A lot of metal windows have been changed to plastic windows.”

The pair living in a listed property claimed the fresh rules prove “more restrictive” than the listing requirements themselves. Paul explained: “I can’t repaint the windows charcoal grey which I was planning to because I will need planning regulation which is quite expensive.”

Terry, 71, and Pauline Rolls, 71, relocated to their home four years ago. They insisted what matters most is preserving the village’s character.

Mr Rolls explained: “We don’t want the village wrecked with plastic windows. What we want is a little damage as possible. There are a few that have been damaged. People doing what they want to their home is not necessarily a good thing. It is all about keeping the character of the village.”

Mr Rolls joked about how the rules could prevent residents from painting their windows and doors pink. He explained: “We could end up with Disneyland. It is not a NIMBY reaction but we need to keep some originality in this country.”

He stressed it’s crucial to maintain these properties ‘the way they are’ for future generations.

Councillor Sarah Hands, lead member for planning and place making at the borough council, explained: “Snowshill is one of the jewels of our borough, and these powers will help to protect its heritage, while still allowing thoughtful and appropriate development.

“We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation and helped shape this decision.” From Wednesday (October 1), applications will undergo the standard planning process, which includes advertisement and consultation, with standard fees applicable.

The decision to implement the Article 4 Direction was made at a Full Council meeting on July 29, 2025, following a period of consultation.

A once tranquil fishing village famed for featuring in the TV series Doc Martin is now said to be inundated with visitors

Port Isaac, the picturesque Cornish village known for its role in the TV series Doc Martin and as the birthplace of sea-shanty band Fisherman’s Friends, is said to struggling under the weight of its own popularity.

The once peaceful fishing village, with its charming whitewashed cottages overlooking a harbour, is now teeming with tourists during the summer months. However, it has been reported that the lower part of Port Isaac has seen a significant drop in its population, with only about 30 residents remaining during the spring and autumn shoulder seasons.

Despite the influx of visitors drawn by its association with Doc Martin, Port Isaac has long been a favourite location for TV and film makers. The village served as the backdrop for the 2000 comedy thriller Saving Grace, as well as the original BBC Poldark series from the 1970s.

Local fisherman, Tom Brown, told the Telegraph that while visitor numbers have increased, they are spending less than previous tourists. He revealed that older locals “hate it” and avoid the bottom of Port Isaac, claiming “it’s ruined”.

However, Mr Brown believes that while the village has “definitely changed”, it isn’t ruined.

The surge in second-home ownership has reportedly priced local families out of the market. According to Rightmove, house prices in the village averaged £425,140 over the last year, reports the Express.

The online property website also noted that most properties sold in Port Isaac over the past year were detached houses, fetching an average price of £490,000.

Terraced houses were sold for an average price of £406,250, while flats went for £333,200. The Halifax House Price Index reported a UK-wide average of £299,331 in August.

Travel and Tour World has reported that a “steep” rise in property prices is driving locals away from Port Isaac, with those who stay facing an “overwhelming” cost of living.

Local businesses have also felt the impact of the surge in visitors over the summer, struggling to meet the demand from the influx of tourists and dealing with challenges during quieter periods.

Cornwall Council’s councillor responsible for homes, Olly Munk, stated that housing in the county is in a state of crisis, with more than 24,000 people on the local authority’s waiting list.

In 2024, the council added 775 “affordable” homes to the county’s total, and there are 600 sites approved for housing. Under a Government scheme, the county is required to build over 4,000 houses annually.

AS I watched the scene playing out on the TV, my heart started pounding.

Estate agent Cherry was meeting her boyfriend’s mum, Laura, for the first time – bringing back memories of the real-life monster-in-law who tried to destroy me in ways you wouldn’t believe.

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Hoping to make a good impression, she arrived with a beautiful bunch of flowers, but her future mother–in-law callously tossed them on a table, dismissing them as rubbish.

It’s a tale as old as time: son introduces the woman he loves to his mum, who instantly feels jealous that a new female will take her place.

So she makes her life HELL.

The reason The Girlfriend had such a strong impact on me was because, in many ways, I’d been there myself.

My ex’s mum hadn’t just disliked me, she’d hated my guts from day one.

She too had thrown down the flowers I’d given her the first time we met – not onto a table, but on the floor.

And the memories of the awful things she did while I was with her son still make me shudder.

Courteous to my face, but nasty behind my back, my monster-in-law, Jackie, constantly bad-mouthed me to friends and family – even my own neighbours.

She regularly told her son, Simon, that I wasn’t good enough for him and urged him to leave me, despite us having a child together.

Eventually, she succeeded and we split up. I simply couldn’t cope with her twisted games anymore.

Thankfully I’ve had no contact with her since the split, but I still have nightmares about it – and watching TV show The Girlfriend brought them all back.

I won’t spoil the story for those who haven’t seen it, but although Cherry isn’t all that she seems, Laura’s actions beggar belief.

For me, though, there’s one big difference.

Courteous to my face, but nasty behind my back, my monster-in-law, Jackie, constantly bad-mouthed me to friends and family – even my own neighbours

Cherry

While Laura’s awful behaviour pushes her son into his lover’s arm, the same could not be said for me and my ex.

His mother’s constant interference created a crack so wide that we still don’t talk to one another, despite sharing a six-year-old.

‘Overbearing’

I’d hoped the unappreciated flowers might be a misunderstanding, but soon I was being subjected to constant put-downs.

Sometimes we’d pop to her house for breakfast and if I asked for a bit of fruit instead of bacon and egg, she’d tut and mutter that I was ‘strange’.

She’d also get in a huff if Simon chose to spend a Saturday night out with me, instead of going round to see her.

He’d tell me his mum was ‘in a mood’ because he wasn’t paying her as much attention now.

I thought he was joking – at that point I had no idea how bizarre their relationship was.

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Just like obsessed Laura in The Girlfriend, Jackie had to know where Simon was at all times.

She’d call and text him multiple times a day, despite only living around the corner.

On one occasion, we were having sex at 11am when she messaged him six times in a row.

“Can you turn it off?” I pleaded as Jackie’s impatient alerts threatened to kill the moment.

I’m not alone in having a difficult relationship with my partner’s mum.

A two-decade study by Dr Terri Apter, a University of Cambridge psychologist, found that more than 60 per cent of women admitted their relationship with their mother-in-law caused them long-term unhappiness and stress.

Two-thirds of daughters-in-law also believed that their husband’s mother frequently exhibited jealous, maternal love towards their sons.

This was definitely true of Jackie.

She relished standing in front of me with her arms wrapped around Simon’s waist or shoulders.

And she had a key to his flat, so would often turn up unannounced.

One morning I plodded, half-awake, into the kitchen wearing nothing but a pair of knickers, only to find Jackie casually washing his dishes.

I complained that I found her actions overbearing and gently tried to explain to Simon that it wasn’t normal for a mum to be so involved in her adult son’s life.

But he responded saying she only did so because she “cared about him so much” and wanted to help.

Two-thirds of daughters-in-law also believed that their husband’s mother frequently exhibited jealous, maternal love towards their sons

During the three years we were together, Jackie would constantly gaslight me, telling Simon she’d sent texts inviting me to the cinema, or out shopping, and that I’d ignored them.

And if he dared take my side, she’d burst into tears on the phone so that he’d have to go round and console her.

Her words were vicious, but her actions were even worse.

If I invited her and her doormat of a husband round for dinner (yes, she controlled him too) she’d politely accept, then not turn up, secretly texting Simon afterwards to say she felt my invite was “fake”.

About a year into our relationship, I found out I was pregnant with our son, Josh.

For a while, Jackie softened – but within minutes of his birth, she reverted to type.

I had a terrible labour which culminated in an emergency c-section. Josh then had to be rushed to intensive care.

I felt exhausted, broken and bloody, so we requested that loved ones give us time to rest.

Everyone respected our wishes – except Jackie.

An hour after I’d got off the operating table, she burst into the room armed with balloons and a giant teddy bear.

“We’ve all been through it, you know,” she crowed as I burst into tears and begged Simon to get her out of there.

She even insisted on sneaking into the intensive care unit to see our newborn, even though I hadn’t been able to see him yet.

Jackie’s treatment only worsened when we finally brought Josh home.

She would message me constantly, telling me which wet wipes to use and what kind of vests I should be putting on him.

I even saw messages on Simon’s phone telling him to hide clothes I’d bought for the baby and replace them with ones she’d supplied instead.

The bullying was so bad, I even went to see a counsellor.

Jackie’s interference caused countless arguments and at one point, I even left Simon after she texted him claiming that I was “lazy” and “a useless mum”.

What hurt even more was that he never defended me.

That’s when I realised the level of control she really had over him.

It was relentless and in the end, I left for good.

I realised I would never be able to have a healthy relationship with such a mummy’s boy and that Jackie would never change.

Thankfully, I have little to do with her now, although she did try to continue her antics after we split.

She bombarded my friends and family with messages claiming that I was mentally ill, an unfit mother and needed help.

Luckily, they knew what she was like and blocked her.

But I’ve had to write my story anonymously, for fear of any backlash.

As a mother of a son myself, I understand it can be difficult seeing your child growing up, moving on and having another woman take centre stage.

But I’ve vowed never to be like my ex’s mum and to try to love whoever my son brings home.

I know all too well what it feels like to be on the receiving end of a hate campaign from a woman it is impossible to compete with.

With temperatures of about 30C accompanied by intense humidity continuing to pose a challenge to the athletes in the Japanese capital, Cairess was unable to complete the men’s marathon.

The 27-year-old Briton, a medal contender after placing fourth at the Paris 2024 Olympics, stopped by the roadside with less than three of the 26.2 miles remaining and the lead group beginning to move out of reach.

“I tried my best. I just got too hot, simple as that really. The conditions were so tough,” said Cairess, who finished third in last year’s London Marathon.

“When I stopped, I just took ages to just feel all right again. I used all the stations to be diligent with the ice and the sponges. While it helped, it just still got too hot.

“I did a decent amount of preparation for the conditions, as much as I could balancing it with training. I’ve not known conditions like it, but this is only my fourth marathon. I did the best I could.”

The village is known as ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ and it is extraordinarily beautiful, with its waterways and stone buildings making it so special.

It’s known as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” because of its beautiful waterways spanned by pretty stone bridges. And on a hot and sunny day, there can be few more charming and picturesque places to be.

Even in a place as beautiful as the Cotswolds, the village of Bourton-on-the-Water stands out. The River Windrush runs through its heart, lined on both sides by trees providing shade and a rainbow’s worth of different colours, and crossed at regular intervals by several pretty stone bridges. Ducks and swans float lazily on the slow-flowing water, which is overlooked by 16th and 17th century Cotswold stone cottages.

In short, with apologies for the cliché, it could not look more like it is straight from a postcard or the pages of a fairytale.

I visited on a sunny Saturday in June and strolled lazily along the water, crossing back and forth over the bridges as and when I felt like it and listening to an ice cream seller shouting the praises of the homemade ice cream he was selling from his little trailer.

I stopped at the shops, restaurants, pubs and tearooms made from the Cotswold stone that make this area famous to take in the atmosphere of each one, and people-watched the visitors sitting outside enjoying coffees, cakes, cups of tea and ice cream.

I tried not to linger outside people’s homes too long but I did have to resist the temptation to tell one elderly gentleman enjoying a cup of tea in his front garden overlooking the water how much I loved his home – someone clearly spent a lot of time looking after it.

One of the most standout features of Bourton-on-the-Water – in fact, one of the most remarkable things I’ve seen anywhere – is the Model Village, a one-ninth scale replica of the village as it was in 1930.

It’s a stunning piece of work, created from local stone by highly-skilled craftsmen. I loved walking around it, marvelling at the care and skill that has gone into creating each and every building. It costs £4.75 for adults and £3.75 for children and is well worth it.

You’ll find it around the back of the beautiful Old New Inn, a historic hotel and restaurant that’s one of the village’s largest and most impressive buildings, run by a husband and wife who took over in 2018 with a view to restoring it.

There are several other options for food and drink along the water. There’s the Box Bush, serving everything from home-smoked trout and homemade sausage rolls to luxurious profiteroles and gelato with flavours like Sicilian pistachio.

There’s the Rose Tree Restaurant, set in a listed cottage with a river-facing garden serving traditional pub meals like Gloucestershire Old Spot sausage and mash and, of course, fish and chips.

Or there’s Smiths and Bourtons, a burger restaurant run by two brothers.

So what’s the problem?

“So what’s the problem?” I hear you ask. “This place sounds amazing.”

Well, Bourton-on-the-Water is so beautiful, so picturesque, so quintessentially British, that it has become a victim of itself. The place is packed with tourists from all over the world and people who live there are dealing with the problems that over-tourism brings, much like the stunning village of Bibury a few miles away.

During my visit, the first hint that this is not your average British village came almost immediately after entering by car, when a large sign directed visitors to an all-day car park with £5 parking.

In the car park, set on a school playing field a short walk from the village centre, stewards took payment and directed us to our space, all done with a smile and without any hint of dismay that we were yet more tourists coming in to choke up their village (the parking fees go at least partly to charity too).

Villagers say over-tourism is causing “huge problems” for them, with the size of the village out of proportion to the number of visitors it receives.

They are currently waiting for plans to tackle coach traffic to be implemented, which would see coaches largely kept out of the village centre.

In particular, “the inconsiderate behaviour of coach drivers” and “free-for-all chaos” were flagged as particular problems, according to a BBC report, though a motion to get the council to accept that tourism is a problem in the village was rejected by elected officials.

However that has not stopped officials from pledging to tackle the “overtourism nightmare” and Cotswold District Council actively avoids promoting the village, according to local reports.

Asked whether he agreed that Bourton was dealing with over-tourism, council leader Joe Harris said: “While we lack specific survey data on perceptions of over-tourism, we acknowledge the strong sentiments of residents regarding the negative impacts on their quality of life due to excessive visitor numbers.

“Balancing the needs of local businesses benefiting from tourism with the quality of life of residents is crucial.”

Many people would assume that such high numbers of visitors would bring significant economic benefits.

But people living in nearby Bibury have said they don’t believe that is the case, saying visitors are only there “for a selfie”. It was very clear to see the scale of the tourism on my visit, to which I was of course contributing.

The stone bridges were closer to photoshoot locations and props than walkways, though I did not see anything akin to what one recent visitor claimed was an embarrassing scene in which he watched tourists “eating from saucepans”.

I’m glad I got to see Bourton-on-the-Water in person. It’s as beautiful in real life as it is in pictures.

I just hope it can find a way to balance the benefits that tourism brings with the quality of life of the people who live there.

Linda Trestrail, 69, and Wendy Russell, 71, had their tickets checked five times but still ended up on the wrong flight. The pair have blasted Jet2 for the “catalogue of disasters”

Two elderly women have slammed Jet2 saying their holiday was “ruined” after a major airport error.

Linda Trestrail, 69, and Wendy Russell, 71, had their boarding passes verified five times but still ended up on the incorrect aircraft. The blunder was only discovered when the captain announced they were touching down in Menorca instead of Majorca.

Jet2 apologised for the “human error” and blamed it partly on the special assistance provider at Bristol Airport. But the women were left furious about the “catalogue of disasters” and claimed they had not received any compensation at the time of the incident.

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Linda said: “You hear of bags going on the wrong flights but not people. The reason we booked Majorca is because of the short flight, we knew our mobility wasn’t good so didn’t want to do much travelling – we are disabled pensioners.”

She added: “You get compensated if you get delayed or lose luggage – but they lost us, not the b****y baggage.”

The pair were given wheelchair assistance at Bristol Airport and helped onto the shuttle bus and plane. Linda said they showed their tickets to the luggage desk, security, a gate desk person, and a ground crew member on the bus – who even did a head count.

She added: “Jet2 are the only ones who do double security check on tickets – so they did that, and then we were directed to our seats on the flight. A cabin crew member asked if we were in the right seats, I said yes but she took our tickets away and confirmed we were in the correct seats.

“Then the captain says we’re landing in Menorca in 10 minutes. Chaos ensued. I cried to Wendy, ‘Oh my god, Wendy! He said Menorca not Majorca!’ I told the flight attendant we were on the wrong plane – and she burst out laughing.

“Our tickets were checked five times – even by the flight attendant twice on the plane. Two passengers had flown from Bristol Airport to Menorca – and Jet2 didn’t even know who was on their plane.”

It emerged that three seats on that flight were vacant, and Wendy and Linda were occupying two of them – settling into the numbered seats they had been allocated on their original flight to Palma De Majorca. The stunned pair were instructed to remain on the aircraft, as the captain introduced himself and confessed he had never witnessed or encountered such a blunder in his entire career.

Despite his offer to personally fly the ladies back to Majorca, Linda claims that Jet2’s CEO, Steve Heapy, “was going mental”, and they were unable to return to Majorca or even stay on the plane “due to security reasons”.

Wendy, who has undergone three brain surgeries and suffers from arthritis, expressed her disbelief: “We went through five major checks there and no one picked up the error – it begs the question about what is going on. They are banging on about security, security, security – but we could’ve been anybody.”

To add insult to injury, when they enquired about their luggage, they discovered their bags had arrived in Majorca without them.

Wendy highlighted this as a serious security breach: “I had my injection in my suitcase – our families were so worried. Our luggage was on the right plane as it took off with two bags without the passengers – that’s so concerning. They are allegedly so concerned about the seriousness of it, but whichever way you look at it it’s a major breach of security. Two suitcases that could have had anything in them.”

The women waited at Menorca airport with the “kind assistance” of a Jet2 manager, enduring several hours before travelling on an internal flight with other employees. Upon reaching their intended destination – Palma De Majorca – a private car was arranged to take the pair to their resort.

Linda said: “We were supposed to be at the resort for 1pm – but neither of us knew what time it was by now. The transport coach we had booked had gone hours and hours ago – and from minute we left home it was around 17 hours later our feet and legs were like balloons”.

“Then the Jet2 rep at the resort wouldn’t even meet us there, she called me and said she had left – and apparently didn’t have time to see to two disabled pensioners – I was furious.”

The journey that ought to have taken them just five hours from departing their homes at 3am on 26 September – dragged on for more than 17 hours.

Linda and Wendy say they crumpled in their room when they finally arrived. But the letdown continued for the unlucky pair – who by this stage were in “such an awful state”. Linda says she got a phone call from a different Jet2 representative two days afterwards, offering the disabled women a ‘complimentary excursion’ – despite them being unable to walk.

She revealed: “He told us that because of our ordeal, they were going to give us a free excursion – I said ‘Are you joking – a what? Do you realise we can’t even walk let alone go for an excursion?

“We’ve been in a state. He replied it was a gesture of good will for what we’ve been through, I honestly thought he was joking and said I’m putting in formal complaint before we leave – we couldn’t go anywhere with our legs and feet swollen and we were in such a bad state. He told us to go to the CEO, Steven Heapy, when we got home and said we would be compensated.”

Wendy and Linda found themselves the talk of the town during their holiday, with Linda recounting: “We went on the beach one day and a man came up to us and said, ‘You two aren’t the ladies who were put on the wrong flight?’ Everyone knew us. We tried to make the best of the situation – but honestly, it was disgraceful.”

The duo, who confessed to feeling “terrified” during their return flight to England on October 6, 2023, claimed their holiday was “ruined”. They have been waiting for a response from Jet2 since then, despite their travel agent from Hays Travel and their children reaching out to the airline.

They say they’ve only received an apology from Bristol Airport so far.

They are still seeking compensation for their “spoilt” holiday. Wendy stated: “You put your faith in these people and when you think of the checks, with tickets passed backwards and forwards plus they were checked again on the plane. There were two Jet2 planes at fault and Bristol Airport. Luckily it was trauma for us – but for someone else, it could have been a lot worse – a lot worse, and this should never happen again.”

Jet2 has since apologised for the mishap. A spokesperson stated: “We would like to offer our sincere apologies to Mses. Trestrail and Russell for this incident. This is an extremely isolated incident and although there was no security risk, we have of course investigated it as a matter of urgency, including with the third-party special assistance provider. We can confirm that the customers went through security correctly, and their luggage was also screened correctly.

“However, after these checks the customers were taken to the incorrect aircraft, which is the responsibility of the third-party special assistance provider at the airport. Upon boarding the aircraft, the incorrect destination on their boarding passes was unfortunately not identified and we apologise for this oversight which was down to human error.

“We have carried out additional training with the team to ensure this does not happen again. As soon as we learned of the issue, our team booked Mses. Trestrail and Russell onto the soonest available flight from Menorca to Majorca and they also provided all the assistance they could both throughout their journey and the rest of their holiday.

“We have been in touch with Mses. Trestrail and Russell to offer an appropriate gesture of goodwill and once again offer our sincere apologies. We understand they are due to travel with us once again this year, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard and delivering the usual VIP customer experience that we are recognised for.”

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: “Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention, we will continue to work with the airline and the special assistance provider to further investigate the circumstances and introduce improvements for the future.”

Passengers who are not on their best behaviour could face jail time or a fine, according to a campaign led by the country’s biggest airports

Brits jetting off have been warned to be on their best behaviour or their summer holidays could “ruined” this year, officials have warned. A nationwide campaign going around the UK’s airports is encouraging holidaymakers to “fly responsibly” or risk “paying the price”.

With experts predicting this summer to be one of the busiest ever for air travel, the One Too Many campaign is cautioning travellers that having too much alcohol before flying out could result in serious consequences. Promotional material even warned Brits they face jail time if they flout any rules.

Travellers who cause disruption on flights may find themselves denied boarding, hit with a lifetime band or fines of up to £80,000 should their conduct force an aircraft to change course mid-journey. “One too many is all it takes to ruin a holiday, cause a delay, land YOU in jail, cancel a flight, [and/or] divert a plane,” one of the campaign’s warnings said.

READ MORE: Boozy holidaymaker warning as police start breathalysing at UK airportREAD MORE: Brit in Benidorm warns tourists could be fined for innocent childhood activity

The One Too Many campaign resources have been deployed across more than 20 UK airports including London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Bristol, reports the Liverpool Echo. The campaign said on its website: “The industry is committed to tackling disruptive behaviour through a voluntary Code of Practice.

“Signatories to the Code work together to prevent and minimise the number of disruptive passenger incidents, and promote a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour; the identification, pre-emption, management and reporting of disruptive incidents; the responsible sale and consumption of alcohol; and education and communication with passengers.”

Karen Dee, the chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: “UK airports are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all passengers. We urge travellers to enjoy their journeys responsibly and not ruin their holidays or the holidays of others. Airports will continue to monitor and act against any disruptive behaviour to ensure everyone’s safety.”

The One Too Many campaign was first launched in 2018, with support from the Government and includes endorsements from the Department for Transport and the Home Office. The campaign came just days after police in the north launched their own campaign to curb boozy Brits who came back from their holidays.

Officers stopped drivers leaving Teesside Airport as part of ‘Operation Take Off’, which targeted passengers who had flown into the airport and had struggled to control their boozing during their flights.

Only one person out of the more than 100 checked was found to have alcohol in their breath. The amount found was below the legal limit, according to police, who gave the person a warning after they admitted to having one glass of wine on board.

Earlier this year, Ryanair called for airports to limit passengers to having no more than two drinks before they board, claiming it would lead to “a safer travel experience for passengers and crews”.

At the time, a spokesperson for Ryanair criticised governments across Europe for what it saw as their “repeated failure to take action when disruptive passengers threaten aircraft safety and force them to divert”. They added: “It is time that European Union authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports.”

Monica Clare, 68, was onboard an Aer Lingus flight from Heathrow to Shannon, Ireland, when the problem began. Her flight was one of more than 150 cancelled on Thursday

Passengers swept up in the air traffic control chaos of Wednesday evening have now found out why their flights were disrupted.

Monica Clare, from Brentford, west London, is one of the unlucky group who had their holiday plans ruined last night. The 68-year-old was on an Aer Lingus aircraft ready to depart from Heathrow to Shannon, Ireland, when things went south. She recounted how the plane stayed on the runway for roughly three hours before the captain informed that his “shift was going to finish”, necessitating the passengers’ return to the terminal.

Ms Clare described the scene inside Heathrow as “bedlam”, with “suitcases everywhere”. The retired maintenance manager had to return home after being informed that Aer Lingus had no available seats on flights that would get her to her friend’s wedding in Limerick on Friday. Her frustrating situation comes as holidaymakers with trips booked this week scramble to figure out what they should do.

READ MORE: UK flights LIVE: Heathrow and Gatwick chaos sees Brits face DAYS of delaysREAD MORE: Your compensation rights as air traffic control chaos causes ‘delays for days’

Ms Clare found that alternative routes, such as travelling to a port and taking a ferry, were impractical and too costly after already shelling out for flights. She is currently seeking refunds for car hire and hotel reservations.

“I’m absolutely numb. I’m so upset. I’m heartbroken. It’s disgraceful. I think it’s absolutely unbelievable in this day and age that something that went down for 20 minutes has caused havoc like that all over the country,” she said.

“I’m so upset, I’m so angry. I’ve spokem to my friend who’s getting married. They’re devastated. We can’t now go to the wedding. I was so excited, and it’s all gone.”

Ms Clare is far from the only one who has been impacted. Asha, 18, from Manchester, said the chaos had ruined her first holiday Interrailing. She told the BBC her 3.10pm flight to Amsterdam had actually departed and was in the air for 50 minutes – before turning around. Hours later, she said she was still ‘stuck’ on the tarmac at the city’s airport

John Carr, a chiropodist from Stourbridge, was one of thousands of stranded Brits left in limbo after his flight from Heathrow to Norway was cancelled at the last minute. He and a group of friends were on their way to his brother’s wedding, for which he is best man, when he found out after checking in that his flight was cancelled.

The 35-year-old said: “I’m pretty gutted. We’ve got loads of stuff in the suitcases to set up the venue, because we’re obviously flying to Norway. We’ve got the wedding rehearsal to do. It’s quite stressful. It’s rubbish. There’s nothing we can do. We don’t know what we’re going to do tonight in terms of accommodation. We have put our cars in special car compounds for the next six days.”

It has now come to light that a “radar-related issue” was at fault for the mass disruption, which saw flights grounded across the UK on Wednesday.

NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe was summoned to speak with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander on Thursday morning, a day after thousands of passengers were disrupted by the technical problem which forced the cancellation of more than 150 flights.

Airlines are demanding a deeper explanation for what happened. A spokesperson for NATS said, “This was a radar-related issue, which was resolved by quickly switching to the backup system, during which time we reduced traffic to ensure safety. There is no evidence that this was cyber-related.”

It is understood that the back-up system continues to be used by controllers while investigations continue. Ms Alexander said: “I have spoken with Nats CEO Martin Rolfe who provided further detail on yesterday’s technical fault.

“This was an isolated event and there is no evidence of malign activity. I will continue to receive regular updates.”

The problem happened at NATS’ control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, and affected the vast majority of England and Wales. A Government source said the failure lasted around 20 minutes, and the level of disruption was similar to a day with bad weather.

TUI passengers on a flight home from Mexico faced chaos after a couple on board the plane started smoking in the toilet and then began fighting

British holidaymakers returning from a sun-soaked break in Cancun, Mexico, found themselves unexpectedly stranded in the considerably chillier US state of Maine, after two passengers on their flight refused to quit smoking and sparked a brawl.

The pilot of the TUI transatlantic flight bound for London Gatwick was compelled to make an emergency landing on Tuesday, following the discovery of two passengers “smoking in the toilet.”

Despite UK airlines having enforced a smoking ban for the past thirty years, the duo stubbornly continued to light up, even when the pilot threatened to land the plane if they persisted.

Irate passengers aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight informed the New York Post that the unidentified smokers seemed to be a couple, whose in-flight chaos subsequently spiralled into a fight. “They were obviously drunk, and he basically assaulted his partner,” one fellow passenger revealed.

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All 267 passengers from Cancun were then subjected to an unplanned stopover in Bangor, Maine. Flight recordings disclose the pilot communicating with air traffic controllers, stating: “Cockpit is secure, and there’s two passengers fighting, and the crew has pretty much gotten them under control.”

Within moments, air traffic controllers had rerouted the flight and by 9.30pm, the TUI flight was grounded in Maine with airport officials escorting the pair of smokers off the aircraft.

The travel chaos only intensified for their fellow passengers, who endured an unplanned overnight stay in Bangor before catching another flight home.

They would be waiting until 3pm on Wednesday to recommence their transatlantic trip, eventually touching down safely at Gatwick later the same day.

The two troublemakers who sparked the chaos dodged any charges by US Customs and Border Protection officials, who resolved to send them back on separate flights.

An official from the border agency commented: “This incident involved a foreign-to-foreign flight that was diverted due to an in-flight altercation between two passengers.

“Upon arrival, CBP officers removed both individuals from the aircraft. Although no criminal charges were filed, CBP processed the two subjects for expedited removal.”

Jo and Martin were given a stern warning by their resort hotel

A holidaying couple were left furious at a hotel’s ‘unfair rules’ when it comes to sunbeds. Jo and Martin travelled to the resort town of Salou, near Barcelona, Spain, for one week.

But while staying at the four-star, £140-per-night H10 Salauris Palace, the couple were hit with ‘stern warning cards’. After leaving their sunbeds for 30 minutes, they came back to find a warning card left on their towels.

Jo said, “When you leave your sunbed for 30 minutes, yet others leave theirs for two plus hours and nothing gets done to them.”

She added: “Two-tier sunbed policing at the H10 Salauris Palace, Salou.”

The clip went viral on TikTok with 235,000 views and dozens of comments. One local said, “Thirty minutes? Hardly time to go for lunch before you need to come back.”

“At least somewhere with rules with sunbeds though, but probably should be after one hour,” added another. Jess joked: “I would place it on someone else’s.”

Jo, who jetted from Belfast International Airport, near where they live, also shared a video of the hotel’s sunbeds appearing to be fully reserved early in the morning.

She advised others: “Unless you get down to the pool at 6 am, you won’t get a good location for your lounger.” One follower said: “We are in a five-star in Lanzarote and despite rules saying no allocating sun loungers, most have towels on by 8 am.”

Pete suggested: “Just move them.” Regina added: “Go somewhere a bit nicer than Salou, then problem solved.”

Jo, known as ‘Grump’ online, also complained about holidaymakers using large pegs to pin down their towel on a windy day. She fumed: “What is it with these giant pegs on sunbeds that annoyed me so much?

“We survived without these for years before!”

However, many of her followers disagreed. One follower said: “Nahhh, they’re amazing. Best fiver I ever spent. Mine are watermelons.”

Camille added: “They are actually quite handy, loved mine, didn’t have to keep fixing the towel!” Andie remarked, “I have watermelon and flamingo ones, which makes your sunbed look quite pretty.”

The H10 Salauris Palace has been approached for comment.

A woman was looking forward to enjoying the views of Africa from 40,000ft on her dream holiday – but her experience was ruined by a family who let their kids climb all over her on a six-hour flight

A woman has slammed a set of parents who let their children ‘climb all over her’ on a plane so they could look out of the window. She explained how she spent years saving up enough money to enjoy the trip of a lifetime with her husband – and they decided to sit separately so they could each enjoy a window seat on the plane.

She made sure to plan every second of their trip down to the finest detail, but she forgot to factor in other people’s ‘entitlement’. Taking to Reddit, she recounted: “Flew first class, Polaris lounge access every leg. We booked separate rows, window seats, because, omg – Africa! Don’t want to miss a second of it.

“We had a 6.5 hour leg from Addis Ababa to Cape Town and are snuggled in (after a 14 hour leg from Washington) and a family of 4 board. The lie-flat pods are in a 2-2-2 layout.”

She shared how the mum instructed her young son to take the middle seat next to her, the young boy recoiled at the thought of sitting next to a stranger.

It appeared that his father also wasn’t keen on the arrangement, given that he sat himself down in the seat in front of her and instantly dozed off, leaving the mum to single-handedly look after the two youngsters.

She added: “The mum sits next to me and her toddler daughter and son in the middle, one row up.

“As soon as the plane is airborne (seatbelt signs still on, flight attendants still sitting) the daughter gets up and crawls into mum’s lap. And plays on mum’s iPad without headphones. Full volume.”

Each time she needed to use the loo, she found the young lad occupying her seat, gazing out of the window – and on every occasion, the mother suggested she let her son be and take the middle seat instead.

“I decline every time. After a couple of hours I finally lie flat to sleep (24+ hours awake) and wake up to horrible pain in my knees – the daughter used my legs as a bench to look out the window,” she continued.

“I understand that flying with kids is tough (mine are now adults) but I’m pleased to say nothing escalated- was too thrilled to be on my dream trip to let anything dampen my spirits.”

Responding to her post, most users concurred that she managed the situation far better than they would have, with one remarking: “The second my legs were touched I’d have probably started screaming.”

Another user chimed in: “I’m sorry I would have said something as soon as I woke up to a kid on me.”

A third user advised: “You need to more aggressively tell them to f*** off. Speak up for yourself.”

A family of four claimed their holiday to Cape Verde was ‘ruined’ after they allegedly found bedbugs in their hotel room. They said they got ‘itchy bites’ and were left ‘absolutely horrified’

A family of four suffered the ultimate holiday from hell after allegedly finding bedbugs in their hotel room.

The ordeal was such a nightmare that the family said they had to abandon £800 worth of their clothes because of the alleged infestation.

Natalie Slater and her husband, Steven, both 45, were excited for their trip of a lifetime to Cape Verde, Africa, with their two children, Alfie, 13, and Amelia, seven. But on the second day of their family getaway in a five-star hotel, beauty business owner Natalie claimed she and Steven woke up covered in itchy sores.

As with many hot climate locations, they initially thought they had been bitten by pesky mosquitoes. It wasn’t until their children found bites five days later that their concerns grew.

“I could feel biting at night time,” Natalie, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said. “I sprayed mosquito spray on the bed and had plug-ins.”

READ MORE: Brits call out ‘horrendous’ hotel behaviour but admit ‘we find it funny’

She added: “Amelia started getting bitten on her face, then my son got bitten. My husband said I looked like a pepperoni pizza because I was covered in that many bites.

“They were shockingly painful, itchy and had pus in them. There were more and more every day, so we looked under the mattress and behind the bed.”

Natalie then claimed: “The mattresses were covered in brown blood stains, and there were bed bug shells on the floor. I was absolutely horrified.”

“I stormed to see the rep who was amazing and couldn’t do enough to help. She told the hotel to do an investigation but they never came so me, my husband and two children sat up all night on the settee.

“Amelia was crying, sat up on the settee. She had 25 bites on her face. I didn’t know what to do. I got my torch out in the pitch black and took photos of the bugs on the bed at 2am.”

The couple claim that they checked underneath the mattresses and were left disgusted when they discovered bloody patches and bed bug shells.

Natalie said she reported the suspected bedbugs to staff and was told that someone would have a look. But she claims that no one arrived at their room, and the family were forced to sleep on a sofa.

TUI maintains that a third-party contractor inspected the room on the same day Natalie lodged the complaint, finding no signs of bed bugs, only mosquitoes.

The company further stated that they relocated the family to a new room and proposed to wash their clothes, insisting there was no proof of bed bugs in the room, and that no other holidaymakers had reported any.

“If they weren’t bedbugs, why did they offer to wash our clothes?” Natalie said.

Despite being moved into a new room, Natalie said that the ordeal had ruined their holiday, which they had been saving for all year. “We couldn’t settle but we had two children and had to try and make the most of it,” she said.

“I cried every day. I wanted to go home but it would have been £400 each and we didn’t have that money.”

With concerns that their clothes could have bedbugs on them, Natalie said she opted to leave £800 worth of clothes behind. However, she made sure to take home £2,000 worth of designer labels, but said she’ll have to replace them.

She said: “We had thousands of pounds of designer clothes that are in a suitcase in the garage. There were Casablanca shirts that are £350 a pop, pairs of crocs for £40, sandals, FCUK tops, Stone Island clothes, Amelia had a Burberry dress and £25 rucksacks. We can’t afford to replace all that.”

Natalie demanded: “I want a full refund for my holiday being ruined, and what about my clothes?” She claimed that she’s “covered in scars” and her daughter can’t “sleep properly”.

She added: “It’s awful. I don’t want it to happen again. We saved all year and go to work. I’m fed up and I don’t want other people to go through it.”

The Mirror has contacted TUI and the hotel for comment.

A family looking forward to a two-week holiday at a five-star hotel in Jamaica were left shocked after an adults-only festival hosted by the resort led to ‘all hell breaking loose’

Liverpool mum Katie had been eagerly looking forward to her TUI holiday in Jamaica, but says her stay there was ruined by raunchy guests who exhibited “sexual behaviour […] for all to see”.

During an appearance on BBC’s Rip Off Britain, Katie and her sister Rachel spoke of Jamaica as their “second home”, and somewhere where they regularly take their children to visit relatives.

According to Katie, whose husband lives in the Caribbean island nation, it’s important for her children to stay connected to their dual culture. She shared: “Jamaica is our second home. We’re really, really proud of the island and love the culture.”

Sadly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the children hadn’t been able to visit their grandparents in Jamaica for two years. And so, the family booked a two-week stay at the Luxury Grand Palladium Resort and Spa in Montego Bay.

The group of 24 family and friends spent approximately £15,000 on their booking, which should have been a dream holiday. Unfortunately, things allegedly took a turn.

READ MORE: Brits call out ‘horrendous’ hotel behaviour but admit ‘we find it funny’

At first, the five-star hotel appeared perfect, with the group impressed by the delicious food, gorgeous grounds, and the great service provided by members of staff. The resort advertised plenty of family-friendly facilities, including watersports and a kids’ pool, and felt like the ideal place to bring little ones.

Then, four days into their stay, the tone changed when the group learned the hotel was hosting a four-day music festival, Fantasy Island. Marketed as an adults-only festival, Fantasy Island was attended by some 700 revellers, who apparently “didn’t care” whether or not their antics were suitable for children.

The sisters shared: “All hell broke loose. The main pool was overtaken. People were drinking like fish. It’s fine if it’s in a nightclub, not morning time around a pool with children. There was sexual behaviour going on at the pool bar for all to see. They didn’t care if there were children there.”

After Katie complained to the hotel manager and TUI rep, she was offered four free nights by the hotel, while TUI offered them £150 per person in vouchers or £100 in cash. They believe this compensation just wasn’t enough.

Katie and Rachel weren’t the only guests to take issue with the Fantasy Island event. NHS worker Emma Owen and her family were drawn to the hotel due to its family-friendly appeal, and paid £7,000 for an 11-night all-inclusive break. She recalled seeing attendees “vomit in the pool” as the festival got underway.

Travel expert Lisa Minot stated: “It really is down to the tour operator to inform their guests that there is going to be a significant change or impact on their holiday.”

A TUI spokesperson previously told the Daily Express: “We’re very sorry that some of our customers’ holidays were impacted by this unexpected event at the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa in August 2021.

“While the hotel did not make us aware in advance, we understand how upsetting this was, and have offered a refund for the full four days, along with our sincere apologies. We’d like to reassure customers that this hotel will no longer be hosting this event.”

The Mirror has reached out to TUI for additional comment.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at [email protected]

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A young couple’s two weeks of passion in the sun quickly turned to pain following an excruciating bedroom injury, which ended up throwing cold water over their holiday and, ultimately, their entire relationship

As she jetted off on holiday with her then-boyfriend, Harriet Smith* had no idea that their dreamy trip would result in an x-rated injury – and, ultimately, the death of their once-sizzling sex life.

Celebrating the end of their finals, the students, then in their early 20s, were in a jubilant mood as they landed in Tunisia for what should have been a blissful two-week break. They enjoyed plenty of romantic moments both inside and outside the hotel room as they looked ahead to a “new chapter.”

But then, around halfway through the holiday, a wince-worthy bedroom blunder through cold water over their dreamy getaway.

One night, after enjoying dinner and a few drinks together, things became especially steamy between the pair, who were still very much in their “honeymoon period”. Sadly, this “night of passion” would be their last.

Speaking with the Mirror, Harriet recalled how, “right in the middle” of their intimate moment, her poor other half began “howling” in pain, screaming out, “Oh, god, oh god.” As Harriet herself put it: “It wasn’t even post coital, it was mid coital.”

READ MORE: Brits warned of summer of holiday hell as strikes threaten 12 Spanish islands

Harriet, from the Midlands, told us: “I just remember him howling out and just thinking he was joking and like hopping around and then thinking, ‘S*** this is serious’.”

They immediately ceased their amorous antics. It was dark, and so the issue wasn’t immediately clear. Then Harriet realised what had happened. She revealed: “His foreskin had gotten stuck, and he couldn’t move it.”

Looking back more than 20 years on after the agonising blunder, Harriet, now 47, reckons their wild bedroom antics contributed to the horror injury. And their ordeal was far from over.

A “private” sort of person, Harriet’s partner was deeply “embarrassed” as he headed to A&E by himself, having to deal with the additional hurdles of being far from home, in a land where he didn’t speak the language.

Worried Harriet waited in their room for news. He arrived back around two hours later, with doctors having given him something to numb the excruciating pain. From that point on, however, it was clear that the second half of their holiday would be far less idyllic than the first.

Harriet shared, “It just obviously significantly impacted the rest of the holiday. There are before-and-after pictures where we’re smiling on camels and looking really loved up, and then there’s the after pictures where he just looks in pain, and he probably was.”

While the first week of their trip was spent camel riding, trying out extreme sports, and exploring local cities, the second was far more low-key, with plenty of relaxing by the pool and chaste early nights. Naturally, sex was off the table for the rest of their stay, with Harriet’s boyfriend being scared to even hug her or become “aroused” in any way.

When they returned to the UK, Harriet’s partner had to have an operation. It would be “at least six weeks or two months” until they slept together again, which, as remarked upon by Harriet, “is quite a long time when you’re 21”. She added: “Honestly, it was never really the same again”.

As well as physical intimacy falling flat, Harriet also found that her partner was too humiliated to discuss the issue with her and, even though she was “very sympathetic”, there wasn’t really much she “could do to help”.

They stayed together for about another year after the Tunisia incident, and, looking back, Harriet believes the injury ultimately spelt doom for the relationship. She reflected: “It was always something. I was worried about hurting him. So I think it really took the wind out of our sails.

“It was a real passion killer. And I think he probably had that association with me that, you know, although it could have happened to anyone at any time, it happened to us. I don’t think it just ruined the holiday, I think it was probably not a relationship killer, but certainly quashed things in the bedroom.”

Until now, Harriet, who fortunately hasn’t been put off sex in the long run, has kept her story secret and has only ever confided in a few very close girl pals.

For a while, she’d “forgotten about it”, having “blocked it out”. However, being a mum of teenage boys has made her sympathise with her former beau’s plight all over again.

Harriet empathised: “I just think, ‘Oh my god, poor thing’. You know, that’s your nightmare as a man to have something like that happen!”

Nowadays, Harriet is no longer in touch with her ex, who now lives overseas with his wife and children. As far as she’s aware, there doesn’t appear to have been any lasting damage to his private parts.

She noted: “Obviously, the fact that he’s been able to have children, he’s sorted that out then. I mean, that obviously didn’t cross my mind at the time, but yeah, you know, everything’s in working order.”

*Names were changed in this story

Do you have a story to share? Email me at [email protected]

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Pensioner Freda Jackson had been looking forward to her holiday in Benidorm all year, but ended up outraged at the number of Spanish guests at her hotel

A British tourist claims she ended up crying at the end of her two-week holiday to Benidorm as her hotel had “too many Spaniards in it”.

Freda Jackson, from Blackburn, Lancashire had booked to stay at the Poseidon Playa, located on the outskirts of the popular tourist spot with a pal back in April 2017.

The following year, the pensioner, who is in her eighties, opened up about the allegedly miserable time she had on her trip raging, “why can’t the Spaniards go somewhere else for their holidays?”

According to retired care assistant Freda, her hotel was full with supposedly “rude” Spanish people, one of whom almost knocked her “flying” without so much as an apology.

READ MORE: Spanish island ‘sounds the alarm’ over tourist issue and it doesn’t involve Brits

Grandmother-of-six Freda, who lives with mobility issues, revealed: “The hotel was full of Spanish holidaymakers and they really got on our nerves because they were just so rude.

“One evening a Spanish guy nearly knocked me flying and he just walked off without even apologising.”

And when it came to the entertainment on offer, unimpressed Freda was left far from amused. She recalled: “The entertainment in the hotel was all focused and catered for the Spanish – why can’t the Spanish go somewhere else for their holidays?”

As explained by Freda, she’d been recommended the Poseidon Playa by travel operator Thomas Cook, and was left dismayed on a number of counts.

Although she’d request flat ground access, Freda says her accommodation was located on a slope. She and her friend, who had paid a total of £1,133 for the holiday, went on to demand either a full refund or a free trip as compensation.

Freda continued: “I have never complained about a holiday before – but this one was a disaster from start to finish. My friend and I paid for it from our pensions and it was a struggle trying to fund it over 12 months and the holiday was totally ruined – I cried after.

“We wanted to go somewhere on flat ground and not in the hills because we have mobility issues. To top it off, once we got to reception they told us we had been put on the 14th floor – thankfully we were moved to the second floor – and that it was 42 steps down to the hotel’s swimming pool.”

Freda, who has previously enjoyed trips to Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Tenerife, alleged that Thomas Cook “mis-sold” and “ruined” what should have been a dream holiday.

She and her then 61-year-old friend journeyed 1,500 miles from Manchester Airport to Alicante on May 10 of that year, having allegedly not been notified that their flight dates had changed.

According to Freda, she had to submit a letter of complaint directly to Thomas Cook, as there were no reps on the holiday to whom she could air her various grievances. Thomas Cook bosses initially offered the duo a £75 holiday voucher as compensation for the “disappointing” experience.

A Thomas Cook spokesperson issued the following statement at the time: “Due to a system error Ms Jackson was not informed of a change to her flights until six days before departure.

“We are very sorry for the inconvenience this caused and are investigating to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We have offered Ms Jackson and her travel companion a gesture of goodwill to try and put things right, which we hope she will accept.”

The grandmother later denied to the Mirror that she had made any derogatory comments about Spanish people.

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A BEAUTY buff has shared how she banished her forehead wrinkles for good after ageing her skin with sunbeds.

Despite long being linked to cancer and banned in countries such as Australia and Brazil, sunbeds are still popular in the UK – and in fact, it seems that their use on the rise.

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Last year, a survey by the charity Melanoma Focus found that 28 per cent of UK adults use sunbeds, rising to a whopping 43 per cent among 18 to 25-year-olds.

In another study from Skin Health Alliance, 60 per cent of young people admitted to sunbed use, with 25 per cent using them on a frequent basis.

But while just one sunbed session can increase the risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 67 per cent, it’s also worth remembering the skin ageing factor.

Sunbeds emit extremely high levels of UV radiation, which damages the skin’s collagen and elastin fibres, leading to wrinkles and a loss of elasticity, warned Public Health Agency.

The faux golden glow can also cause increased melanin production, leading to the formation of sun spots or age spots, which can appear as dark patches on the skin.

One former beauty buff, Chloe White, recently took to TikTok where she showed the damage caused by soaking up the harmful UV rays – as well as how she drastically improved the appearance of her skin.

”I used to use the sunbeds and it aged my skin a lot quicker than I wanted to,” the young woman said in the video where she also shared a snap of her wrinkly forehead.

As well as saying goodbye to sunbeds, Chloe began to take better care of her skin – which also included using retinol.

Ideal to start incorporating into your routine as you approach your mid to late 20s, retinol increases skin cell production.

As well as unclogging pores, it also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a fresher, plump appearance.

While the high street is full of different retinols to suit every budget, there are also more affordable options – such as
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Serum, £15.20 at Boots.

”Look at my forehead now – compare to that picture.

”I was actually thinking about getting Botox and I thought ‘Before I start injecting my face with things, why don’t I just try this?’

”And it was worked so, so unbelievably well for tightening up my skin.”

The blonde beauty went on: ”The only thing that I didn’t know when I started using it is that you do have to wear SPF as well, because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun.

”But yeah, it’s worked amazing compared to what my wrinkles used to look like,” said Chloe, adding it too her just two weeks to see results.

”I actually promise I have no filter on my skin, my sister in law came over and she’s in her 30’s BEST SKIN EVER and that’s what she said she uses, never looked back,” said the TikTok who posts under the username @chloe.w.hite.

Risks of sunbeds

THE promise of a constant glowing tan is too tempting for some people to deny.

But while popping to the sunbed shop may seem harmless, people who use tanning beds should be aware of the risks.

Approximately 10 per cent of the population of Northern Europe use sunbeds on a regular basis, the World Health Organization says.

Some people use them for years on end, accumulating risk of serious disease.

We are here to give you the lowdown on sunbeds and if they are safe to use.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking.

Like the sun, they give out harmful UV rays that damage the DNA in your skin cells.

Over time, this may lead to malignant melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – studies have shown.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there is significant evidence to show that using tanning beds causes melanoma.

They report that sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer by up to 20 per cent, and also state that they have no positive benefits to our health.

Cancer Research back this statistic, adding that ” there is no such thing as a safe tan from UV radiation”.

One study found that sunbeds can almost double the risk of cancer compared to never using them – with women 83 per cent more likely to develop the disease.

While some people think tanning beds are safer than sitting out in the midday sun, according to Cancer Research, the risk is still twice as high when compared to spending the same amount of time in the Mediterranean sun at lunch time.

The Sunbed Association claim there is not enough evidence to link sunbed use with melanoma, adding: “It is over-exposure and burning that will increase a risk of skin cancer, not responsible UV exposure.”

But the WHO says: “The majority of tanning parlours provide inadequate advice to their customers.

“The use of eye protection such as goggles or sunglasses should be mandatory.

“However, as sunbed users aim to have an even tan, they often decide against protecting any part of their body.”

Referring to the link with skin cancer, the world health experts add: “Sunbeds for self-tanning purposes have been available for the last two decades and due to the long latency period for skin cancer and eye damage it has been difficult so far to demonstrate any long-term health effects.

“Even though the causes of malignant melanoma are not fully understood, tumour development appears to be linked to occasional exposure to intense sunlight.

“Sunbeds subject their users to intermittent high exposures of UVA and UVB radiation – this may provide the ideal setting for the development of malignant skin cancer.

“However, the few epidemiological studies that have been carried out to date have not provided any consistent results.”

Despite the WHO’s cautious stance on the skin cancer link, it discourages the use of sunbeds, quoting an expert who said the use of tanning parlours is like “an industrial-scale radiation exposure experiment”.

Regardless of skin cancer, sunbeds don’t just have long-term health risks.

Users have reported a range of short-term symptoms including itching, dryness and redness of skin, freckling and photosensitivity.

Common outcomes in the longer term, especially in fair-skinned people, may involve blistering of the skin.

“Sagging and wrinkling of the skin are an almost certain price to be paid by frequent sunbed users”, the WHO says – not quite the outcome you hope for when going to the sunbed shop for a beautiful, youthful look.

How to use retinol?

The beauty bag must-have, a form of vitamin A, is to be added to your evening skincare routine – and never in the morning.

Before you use a retinol product for the first time, do a patch test on a small area of your skin to see if you have any negative reactions.

If, after a couple of days, your skin patch isn’t very red or itchy, you can safely add it to the skincare regimen.

Fabulous’ Beauty Editor, Tara Ledden, explained how to safely use this beauty bag must-have to reap the benefits.

Once you wash your face in the morning, pile on the nourishing products, too. 

The golden rule is that less is more. Less product – a pea-sized amount should cover your whole face, using more won’t make it work faster – and less frequently.

Start with one night a week, then after a few weeks, once you know your skin is tolerating it, scale up to twice a week for a few more weeks and so on.

Don’t be disheartened if your skin can only handle it every other night, you’ll still be reaping the rewards and it’s better to use it consistently over a longer period than ramp it up and have to take a break because your skin reacts.

Avoid sensitive areas, like around your eyes and lips, as that’s almost guaranteed to cause problems, and our skin is porous so enough of the product will creep towards both when applied further away.

If you’re impatient, retinal works faster than retinol – yes, one letter makes all the difference.

Both have to convert into retinoic acid before unleashing their skincare benefits, and the former is one step further in that process, which many dermatologists I’ve spoken to mean it’s also kinder to skin, and better tolerated by those of us with sensitive complexions. 

Most of us have been sunburnt, however one holidaymaker suffered an extreme reaction to ‘sun poisoning’, leaving her family members referring to her as ET. She is speaking up about her experience to warn others of the risks of sun exposure

Sunshine, Caribbean heat and cocktails – that’s what Ashlei Bianchi expected from her family getaway. But just two days in, her dream holiday quickly turned into a nightmare.

The 23-year-old had spent the afternoon soaking up the scorching Punta Cana sun while chilling by the pool with family. But hours later, she noticed a strange change – her forehead and head were swollen.

She’d used protection and assumed it was just a mild reaction to the heat – nothing to stress over. “I did use sunscreen, but I still got a little red, which was going to happen either way since I’m not used to the sun down there, and we were in the pool all day,” she said.

Trying to nip it in the bud, Ashlei wiped her face with aloe vera gel and hoped it would clear up naturally. “My face started getting worse, and that’s when the swelling on and under my eyes happened.”

By the final morning of the trip, one of her eyes was completely swollen shut – and things got even more alarming when she phoned her mum. “I FaceTimed my mom, and she said I didn’t even look like myself, then the family I went with said I looked like E.T.”

If her own mum couldn’t recognise her – how would she get through customs? “I had to go on my flight and go through customs looking not like myself, and I was scared I wasn’t going to be able to get back home. I’m so thankful I made it through,” she said.

“I wore my sunglasses the whole trip home, even when it was dark out, because I was so embarrassed.” And it wasn’t just her appearance drawing reactions, “When I went to the pharmacy, the lady working had wide eyes and went, ‘Oh my.’ Then, when I went through customs in Boston, the guy was like, ‘Too much sun?’ and I was like, ‘Yep!’”

Ashlei stopped at a Dominican airport pharmacy and picked up anti-inflammatory medication. While still abroad, she reached out to her doctor, who prescribed her an oral steroid but she couldn’t begin the course until landing back in New York on March 25.

It took four full days of steroids for her face to finally return to normal.

“My doctor wasn’t sure if it was sun poisoning, but I work at a hospital and asked a rheumatologist. She said it was sun poisoning, so that’s what I have been telling people it is.” she said

Now fully recovered, Ashlei is speaking out to warn others about how dangerous sun exposure can be – even when you use protection. “I would say the dangers of sun exposure are real. I’m lucky my sun poisoning affected my face and not anything else, and I had no symptoms besides swelling.”

“It’s very important to use your sunscreen and wear hats. I think that’s where I went wrong. I really should have had something besides sunscreen protecting my face.”

“But all in all, the sun is no joke, especially in the Caribbean where it’s much more potent.”

READ MORE: Dermatologist approved skincare brand from Yorkshire that ‘clears skin in a week’