A Bradford family's dream of a new life in the sun lay in tatters today after they were forced to flee racist thugs.

Paul and Jayne Wilson had hoped for a new start in a remote Spanish village, but now find themselves seeking refuge back in their home town of Bradford.

The couple, pictured with their five children, left behind their dream home and all their belongings after being taunted and attacked by local villagers in Callosa D'en Sarria, near Benidorm.

"All we wanted was our dream to live a life abroad in the sun," Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson, who was in the Royal Air Force for 12 years and received two campaign medals for the Gulf War and Northern Ireland, said the family had been forced to stay indoors to keep clear of their neighbours.

He said his children were beaten up, bitten on the neck, spat at and stoned by Spanish youngsters, and bullied at school.

He said: "Our children started getting attacked and when I went to try to sort things out I was threatened.

"It got to the point where we were too scared to leave the house and we would not leave each other alone in the house.

"When we finally decided to leave we did it during siesta time so that nobody would notice."

Mrs Wilson also said they were too scared to call the police because they feared for their safety.

"I have lived all over the country with the RAF and have never been as terrified as this," she said.

Mr Wilson, who was medically discharged from the RAF after 12 years of service, had planned to set up his own business as a network security engineer in IT.

But the dream home is now up for sale and the family have had to return to the country penniless.

"At the moment we are not bothered about the money," said Mr Wilson. "The main thing is that all of us have come out of this relatively unscathed.

"We had to get out when we did otherwise it could have got a lot worse."

And now they admit the dream is over.

"We definitely never want to go back," Mr Wilson said.

The family, who lived in a four-bedroom home in Oxfordshire before giving it all up to move to Spain, are now sharing with Mr Wilson's father in a three-bedroom house in Laisterdyke.

They approached Bradford Council for accommodation but claim the house they were offered was unfit to live in.

"It stunk of urine, the carpets were filthy and the mattresses supplied were disgusting," said Mr Wilson. "I wouldn't let a dog sleep in them."

The couple are now waiting to see if any other accommodation comes up.

In the meantime they are waiting for the sale of their house in Spain to come through.

Geraldine Howley, the Council's housing director, said: "We are satisfied that Mr and Mrs Jones were dealt with properly. When they approached the Council, temporary accommodation was offered but they chose to turn it down.

"Their application was assessed in line with the homelessness procedures and they were judged not to be homeless. While they do not have the priority afforded to homeless applicants, other options were explained to them and we will continue to assist them in finding suitable alternative accommodation."

A spokesman for the Spanish Embassy said: "We are not aware of any racial abuse taking place but sporadic attacks may occur in Spain as well as all over the world.

"Spain is a multi-cultural and multi-national place and if this has taken place we apologise for the upset this may have caused.

"If they want to make an official complaint we will be happy to help."