A HOLIDAYMAKER injured in the Spanish airport bomb blast today described how she was caught up in the mayhem following the explosion.

Marie Carradice of Colne was hit by a piece of the bomb at Reus Airport but did not realise until someone told her blood was running down her leg.

Her friend Gail Robinson, also from Colne, who was standing next to her, escaped without a bruise.

The two were on their way home after a fortnight's holiday in the sunshine resort of Salou when their trip ended in a nightmare.

But the ordeal has not put the women off returning to Spain.

"It was a one in a million chance that could have happened anywhere," said a defiant Marie. "We've had enough bombs go off in this country."

Marie, 34, of Bright Street recalled: "We were queuing to go through passport control when the family behind us said something was wrong.

"Two policemen went past us and into the toilets, which were about 30 yards away from us, with two women cleaners. The policemen came out and the bomb went off. "I saw the blast come out of the toilets. There were two seconds' complete silence and then everyone screamed and there was a mad panic.

"I felt something hit the back of my leg but I never thought about it.

"I either got blown over a table or fell over it and I picked myself up and ran to the airport entrance. It was mayhem."

Gail said: "One minute Marie was behind me and the next minute she'd disappeared. I got swept along with the crowds rushing towards the doors.

"I was trying to get back in to help her when I saw her coming out."

Marie bravely helped an elderly British woman who had been injured in the shoulder, unaware she had been hurt herself.

"I never looked at my leg until someone told me it was bleeding," said Marie, who works at Furnico in Colne.

"A man put his football shirt around it and they put my leg up on a pile of suitcases."

Marie was taken to hospital where surgeons operated on her leg to remove pieces of shrapnel. She flew back home early yesterday morning.

Marie was full of praise for holiday firm Thomson and Britannia Airways who helped her after the blast and arranged for her trip back home.

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