A COUPLE say they were lucky to escape serious injury after their tour coach crashed in Spain.

Brian and Mary Matthews were returning to Malaga Airport to fly back to Manchester after a holiday when the accident happened.

The couple, both 59, had spent 11 days in the resort of Estapona, on the Costa del Sol, after booking the holiday with Rossendale-based Airtours.

Brian and Mary, who live in Elmwood Close, Accrington, say they have been left badly shaken by the incident and are considering making a compensation claim against the travel company.

They say the Spanish driver was going too fast and the vehicle was not fitted with seat belts.

They said the driver pulled into the outside lane of a dual carriageway and was in collision with a car in front.

Brian and Mary say no one on the coach was physically injured, but they have been affected by the incident.

Brian, a labourer at CS Upholstery, Oswaldtwistle, said: "We weren't injured, but we were shaken up and I'm still not right. My nerves have gone and my stomach's like jelly."

Mary added: "We had plenty of time to get to the airport, but I thought the driver was going a bit fast, especially as there are a lot of bends on the coast road. "I was a bit frightened before the accident because of the speed we were doing.

"The coach went up against some concrete pillars and came to a stop. No one seemed hurt, but some people were crying. I was shocked and stunned and it felt like I had a lump in my stomach and chest.

"We were treated well by the Airtours reps and a doctor gave us tranquillisers at the airport.

"Airtours apologised to us, but we are thinking about going for compensation, if only for the trauma. Brian still seems in a dither and a bit off balance."

A spokeswoman for Airtours said: "All our customers were safe and none of them were injured. They were given access to a doctor if they wished.

"We had representatives waiting in Manchester but they weren't approached. We did everything we could for the customers.

"Seat belts are not a legal requirement on coaches in Spain, although the front row did have seat belts."

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