TWO workmates from Preston have revealed how a baggage-handlers' strike in Tenerife almost wrecked their Easter holidays.

Joanne Barrow, from Chorley, and Anne Hodgson, of Penwortham, were caught in the strike at different stages of their holidays, and both have complained to the firms involved.

The flight Joanne was travelling on, with her boyfriend and daughter, was delayed on take-off at Manchester Airport for three hours. The aeroplane was then diverted to Tenerife's neighbouring island Gran Canaria because of the strike.

She said: "We were sat on the 'plane in Gran Canaria for three hours before we were told we would have to wait another two.

"Everyone was very angry, so they gave us airport passes. When we got back on the 'plane, we were looking forward to finally getting there.

"But then the crew told us we'd missed our flight time and the plane had to return to Manchester."

But the passengers disembarked the Scandic Airlines 'plane, and travelled over to Tenerife by ferry, which took a further 24 hours. Joanne added: "There was just one holiday representative dealing with hundreds of angry passengers and it took an hour to reach the ferry. The crossing was choppy and people everywhere were being sick. Then there was a long coach journey to the island's airport and a taxi from there to our apartments."

The company Joanne booked her holiday with, Blue Sky Villas, were unavailable for comment at the time of going to Press.

Joanne's colleague Anne was enjoying her on holiday in Tenerife when the airport's ground staff went on strike. But the Airtours representative for the area picked up passengers to return to the airport as normal.

Anne said: "We were held up for hours and they didn't even offer us drinks. Even the shops were closed.

"What made it worse was that it was known that there was a strike on. We couldn't even get into the airport because there were dozens of flights not checked in. On the return flight, there was no food and drink because there was no airport staff to load it onto the 'plane.

"It was only when we boarded that they told us our luggage would not be coming with us."

The luggage arrived home two days later than expected.

A spokesperson for Airtours said: "The complaints will be investigated as soon as we have more details and our customer services team will contact the passengers involved."