A couple were forced to flee a dream cruise to Mexico by the hurricane which has wreaked havoc across America.

Gerald Swinbank and his wife June had to leave the luxury cruise ship Topaz three days early because its return journey was in the path of Hurricane Georges.

Now the pair, who run the George and Dragon pub in Great Horton Road, Bradford, want compensation from Thomsons after their holiday was cut short.

"We'd been on a cruise before to celebrate our silver wedding and we enjoyed it so much, we wanted to go on another one," said Mr Swinbank, 47.

"We were asleep one morning in our cabin when we were woken up at 7am with a letter under our door saying we had to leave the ship.

"The way we were travelling back to Florida was right in the path of Hurricane Georges.

"Everyone was panicking and we were all worried that it could strike at any minute. We all packed quickly but we didn't get off the ship until the afternoon.

"It was so annoying as our cruise was supposed to have been a week-long and the company must have known about the hurricane for weeks.

"We were even more angry when we found out that some of the passengers were staying on board. The ship was going to take an alternative route back, avoiding the hurricane, which was actually miles away.

"This would have got us back a day later than planned but the company weren't willing to change our flights.

"We were denied a request for a complaints form and the reps said there was no way we would get compensation for what they said was 'an act of God'."

The couple paid more than £600 for the week-long, all inclusive cruise which went to the Bahamas and Mexico and they had spent the first week in Florida.

They booked the Thomson holiday through Worldwide Travel on Teletext and flew from Manchester on September 12.

"Everyone left the ship and spent hours in a Mexican airport waiting to be flown back to Florida," said Mr Swinbank.

"Most of the English passengers were angry about the way it had been handled and we all want compensation for ruining our holiday.

"We've sent a joint letter to Thomsons as well as our own letter of complaint."

Debbie Blorr, a spokesman for Thomson Holidays, said the company did not compensate for natural disasters which were beyond its control.

"The reps were right - we don't give compensation for an act of God, which is clearly stated in our fair trading charter."

"It says in our brochure that it is hurricane season so all passengers should be aware of this when they book their trip."

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