An autumn holiday in Portugal turned into a disaster for a Bradford family, it was claimed today.

Mary and Tony Elliott booked a week on the Algarve in October with their two young children, Gemma, seven, and Sophie, ten.

They decided on a hotel about five miles from the seaside resort of Albufeira and had paid £300 extra for an all-inclusive package, which contained entertainment and sporting facilities, meals, snacks and drinks.

But what they got was a second-class service, according to Mrs Elliott. Now they are battling with tour operators JMC for compensation for the holiday.

"In all, we paid £1,300 for the holiday," she said. "As a rule, we never pay more than £1,000 but we thought the hotel was quite isolated so the all-inclusive package would be just what we needed with everything included.

"But when we got there we found it was being run down before being closed for winter. The brochure boasted 'a myriad of facilities' which sounded wonderful."

The couple, of Althorpe Grove, Idle, claim the facilities were withdrawn day by day. They say:

shops and ice cream cabinets were emptied

daytime activities, including horse riding, were withdrawn

the sauna and whirlpool were turned off and the indoor pool closed (although, after complaints, they were re-opened unheated)

nightly discos and weekly barbecues failed to happen

hotel decor even down to sun beds and patio furniture were taken away.

The couple, both 37, also found the evening snacks were withdrawn and locally-produced alcoholic drinks ran out.

"We complained in the resort and filled in two complaint forms but the holiday reps disappeared half way through the week because of the complaints they were receiving," said Mrs Elliott.

"I don't know what would have happened if there was an emergency and someone needed help.

"We want the £300 extra we paid refunded and we don't think the hotel was worth more than £800 - so we want £500 compensation in total."

A JMC spokesman told Rights and Wrongs the company had already investigated their complaint and made a compensation offer and an apology.

But she added: "We are always willing and keen to find an amicable outcome for all parties involved and we are therefore prepared to review the matter further. We will contact Mr and Mrs Elliott in the next seven days to advise them of our revised decision."

British Gas apologises over pensioner's electric bill mix-up

Pensioner Christine Dennis was facing a British Gas bill for more than £300 - until she contacted Rights and Wrongs.

The 64-year-old from Fagley claimed she had spent months trying to sort out problems with her bills after she agreed to transfer her electricity supply to British Gas in February last year.

She said a meter reading was taken before the transfer went ahead but she kept getting estimated bills from her previous supplier - along with letters from a debt collecting agency.

That problem was finally sorted out after several months - then last week she received an estimated British Gas electricity bill for £370 for the period May to December last year.

In tears she told us: "I just don't what else to do. I spent months trying to sort this all out and now something else has happened.

"I'm at the end of my tether - they have a proper meter reading but they are sending me an estimated bill which is far higher than my normal ones. My health has suffered and I just can't do any more."

But within an hour of contacting us, her problem was solved.

British Gas said: "We accept we are in the wrong and we apologise to Mrs Dennis for the distress caused.

"We have now reviewed the situation and Mrs Dennis will get correct bills from now on. We have spoken to her and we have offered her a sum of compensation.

"And as a gesture of goodwill we will ask if she would like a visit from a home energy adviser who can give her help and advice."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.