A MOTHER of three is planning to sue a holiday company after contracting a viral infection which left her seriously ill and in hospital for six weeks.

Beryl Rushton said she believed she contracted viral gastro-enteritis while on an all-inclusive package holiday to the Dominican Republic weeks before Christmas.

The 58-year-old, from Huncoat, said she believed she contracted the virus while staying at the Hacienda Villas complex, in Puerto Plata, in the north of the country.

She has instructed solicitors to begin legal proceedings for a personal injury claim against tour operator First Choice.

The company today confirmed it was aware of the proceedings although said it could not comment further as it was a legal matter.

Beryl, who went on the fortnight holiday with a friend, said: "I have had three children and the pain I experienced was much worse than being in labour."

Beryl said she first started feeling unwell during the first week of her holiday, although she put this down to a change in the climate. In the second week, she said her condition worsened.

She said she notified the First Choice representative and was prescribed medicine.

Beryl, an author who writes under the name of A Lancslas, said: "I just wanted to get back to England at this time. I knew I would have to go to hospital, but wanted to do so at home."

Beryl was taken straight from Manchester Airport to Accrington Victoria Hospital.

She was transferred to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where she spent the next six weeks. She spent a further two weeks at Queen's Park Hospital.

Beryl is now back at home but makes regular visits back to the hospital. She said she was temporarily confined to a wheelchair and said her movement was very limited.

"It has been three months now and It's very frustrating. I have to rely on other people for everything."

John Bennett, a solicitor at Forbes, in Accrington, is acting on behalf of Beryl. He said: "My client went to the Dominican Republic where she said she contracted some sort of illness.

"She has asked me to pursue an injury claim against First Choice Holidays on the basis that there have been problems in the Dominican Republic with people having their health affected. I have written to First Choice and am waiting for a formal reply."

Mr Bennett also urged anybody else, who had similar complaints, to get in touch with him on 01254 872111.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents said the Dominican Republic was widely regarded as having a hygiene problem when British tourist operators began to use it as a package holiday destination three years ago.

As a result, tour operators began to use their own health and safety inspectors, which brought the standards up drastically.

He added: "There are still the odd reports of incidents, as there are anywhere, but it is no longer a major problem. We certainly have not had reports about Hacienda Villas."

A spokesman for Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust said viral gastro-enteritis was the inflammation of the stomach and intestine and was usually due to acute infection of the patient by viruses, bacteria or to food poisoning toxins and caused vomiting and diarrhoea.

He said the illness, in usual cases, should only last three to five days, but fluid loss was sometimes severe and intravenous drips were needed to prevent the patient becoming dehydrated.

The spokesman confirmed that Beryl had been treated at Blackburn Infirmary and Queens Park Hospital but would not say any more because of patient confidentiality.