A NEWLY-married couple have been left devastated after missing out on their dream honeymoon after being stuck in traffic for nearly eight hours following a motorway smash.

Claire Garrity-Yates, 26, and Craig Yates, 28, of North Cliffe Lane, Thornton, missed their flight from Manchester Airport to Porto Santo Island, near Portugal, after spending nearly eight hours on the M62 on Monday after a lorry carrying butter crashed through the central reservation.

They finally arrived at the airport shortly after 6.20pm but the flight had taken off at 4.55pm.

Thomson Airways, with which they had booked the £1,400 holiday, told them they had missed the only flight going to the remote island from Manchester each week.

The couple, who were married in Brighouse on June 4, say the company said they could go on next Monday's flight to the island but they would have to pay an additional £1,400 which they could not afford.

The couple have now travelled to Turkey for an alternative honeymoon after borrowing £800 from family members after getting in touch with Leeds Bradford Airport-based Jet2.

Mrs Garrity-Yates said: "We were totally devastated that we could not go. We were pretty annoyed with Thomson.

"It was our dream holiday. We wanted to go there as it was luxurious and romantic. We were so excited about it.

"We had been saving up our money for the holiday for the last two-and-a-half years.

"Thomson told us our money was non-refundable as they did not cancel the flight themselves and we missed the flight and that they will not cover the cost of anything.

"They advised us there was no option. This was our honeymoon and we are distraught, we cannot afford to pay the money again.

"We were not a no show, we were sat in traffic due to a tragic accident.

"Of course we feel sorry for the guy who had the accident. It was not our fault, we could not have got there in time."

A Thomson Airways spokesman said: "We understand how much people look forward to their holidays and we're always sorry to hear if it doesn't go to plan, as in the case of Ms Garrity and Mr Yates.

"While the couple were unable to make their flight due to circumstances beyond our control, we offered them the chance to join the next available flight, which they have declined."

Thomson has provided the couple with a letter to confirm that they arrived at the airport after the flight had left to support their insurance claim.