SCORES of East Lancashire sunseekers were left stranded as coach drivers in Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza went on strike.

The stoppage triggered queues of more than three hours for taxis from Palma airport in Majorca to hotels yesterday.

Other tourists who were due to fly home from the Balearic islands were being told to stay in their hotels rather than try to reach their scheduled flights.

And dozens of East Lancashire tourists were forced to wait for up to five hours at Manchester Airport as planes to the islands were delayed.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph sports editor Murray Walker, who was due to end his holiday at Porto Cristo - one-and-a-half-hours from Palma airport - this morning, said yesterday: "There are 6,000 of us here with no way of getting out. We're supposed to be being bused to the airport for a flight to Leeds/Bradford, but we've been told to stay put."

Some 300,000 tourists were expected to be hit this weekend as the coach drivers went on strike over a three per cent pay row.

Officials at Palma airport warned they could not rule out cancelling flights if the action continued over the weekend.

And tourists waiting up to five hours at Manchester Airport's terminal one last night were bracing themselves for longer delays.

Tour companies have drafted in hundreds of taxis to ferry passengers to their hotels, with lorries being hired to deliver luggage.

Jonathon Cartwright, 30, from Burnley was one of the hundreds held up at Manchester airport. He said: "There is talk of really long queues when we get to Majorca and I heard on the news they might even close the airport. What would happen to us then? This is just typical of the Europeans."

Andrew Cunliffe, 21, from Bolton Road, Chorley, was heading out to Ibiza with six university friends.

He said: "They have delayed our flight out there and said there are delays when we get there as well.

"To be honest, we haven't been told how we will get to our hotel. It is a nightmare start to a holiday we have been saving up for since the start of the year."

Tourists are being asked to check in as normal at Manchester but be prepared for delays and pack their hand luggage accordingly - with clothes, drinks and medication.

A spokesperson for Rossendale-based Airtours, which was still flying East Lancashire holidaymakers out to Majorca, said: "We are monitoring the situation and in the meantime we are making contingency plans, providing extra welfare for people."