After days of constant rain and being left stranded because of the volcanic ash cloud, pensioner Betty Potts’ trip to Spain had become memorable for all the wrong reasons.

But the 78-year-old enjoyed a dream ending to her holiday nightmare after being rescued by a £500 million cruise liner that sailed her home.

The great-grandmother, from Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton, said her spell on the high seas was “a dream come true” and is already planning her next cruise.

She flew out to the Spanish resort of Fuengirola in the Costa Del Sol on April 4 with her friend Doreen Yardley who she met when they were both waitresses at the city’s landmark Beatties store in the 1950s.

They had been due to return to Manchester airport on Sunday April 18.

But, because of the Icelandic eruption that closed all UK airspace the pair were told they could not fly home as planned.

But their distress soon turned to celebration after being told their ride back to the UK would be on the newly-built Celebrity Eclipse luxury cruise liner.

They were among 2,200 lucky tourists aboard the liner, which set sail on Thursday and arrived back in Southampton on Friday.

Mrs Potts said: “It was absolutely beautiful, we didn’t have to pay for anything, the food was magnificent. It was the best thing that has ever happened to me.

“We were looked after so well, when we came off at Southampton all the waiters and waitresses were lined up saying goodbye and then a band started up. I felt like the Queen.”

Mrs Potts also praised her holiday firm Thomas Cook for keeping her informed.

The Celebrity Eclipse had postponed its naming celebrations to rescue people stranded by the ash cloud.