A GRANDMA has appeared on national television to hit back at the negative coverage she received in the media following her ‘disaster’ Benidorm trip.

Freda Jackson, from Blackburn, appeared on ITV’s This Morning to talk about the backlash she has received regarding her negative comments she made about Spanish people during the two-week trip.

The 81-year-old, who lives in Intack, claimed there were too many Spanish holidaymakers in her hotel, the Poseidon Playa, and said that they should go somewhere else on holiday.

Her story, which was first reported by the Lancashire Telegraph, was circulated across the national papers, radio and TV and received coverage in Spain too.

ITV presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford sat down with the the former care assistant worker on the daytime ITV show, who claimed she was ‘misrepresented’ in the media.

She also said that she felt heartbroken about the coverage and felt the key issues she had with Thomas Cook – namely the flight date changes and her mobility issues – were being ignored.

Tearfully Freda said: “I did not say the Spanish people should go somewhere else on their holidays, but some of the Spanish in that hotel were very rude.”

Eamonn interjected to say that Freda was upset about the ‘rude’ holidaymakers in the hotel rather than the fact they were Spanish.

However Freda reiterated that while she has ‘nothing against the Spanish’ she had a problem with specifically the Spanish people she interacted with during the trip.

The presenters then revealed that Freda and her 62-year-old friend from Shadsworth have accepted an offer of £566 compensation from Thomas Cook for their £1,133 holiday, who admitted they had made an ‘error’ with the flight date changes.

Bosses at This Morning gave Freda tickets to see legendary crooner Barry Manilow at the 02 arena in London – to make up for the lack of British tribute artists on her holiday.