Mixed emotions for passengers at Brum

Frustrated holidaymakers, many in tears, were left stranded after airline XL went bust on a day of high and mixed emotions at Birmingham Airport.

Families, some from as far afield as Cornwall, arrived at the airport yesterday to find their plane cancelled. And thousands were left stranded abroad as flights were grounded.

Phone lines were ringing out and handling staff had no answers for confused travellers booked on to an afternoon flight bound for Tenerife.

Many who called helplines earlier in the day claimed they were told their tickets would still be valid for yesterday's 4.30pm Air Malta Flight, sub-chartered by XL.

Instead the plane was empty when it flew to the holiday island to rescue tourists stranded after XL Leisure Group went into administration.

By mid-afternoon all alternative flights to Tenerife were booked up and many sunseekeers shelled out hundreds of pounds with alternative holiday operators.

Friends Hannah Chambers, aged 21, Ben Flavell and Stephanie Harrison, both 20, of Wombourne, were due to fly out to the sunshine isle.

Hannah said: "We don't know what to do. We were due to got out there to look after my nan. "My brother is there at the moment. He was due to fly back as he is meant to be jetting out to Cancun for a wedding tomorrow. As it stands he is stuck out in Tenerife and no-one knows what is happening."

While some travellers concentrated their efforts on finding an alternative holiday destination, for many the strain was too much.

Caroline Dobson, 32, and son Thomas, three, were travelling to Tenerife with friend Elise Timson, 42, and her son Nate.

Caroline, who works in a bureau de change, said: "We have driven up from Cornwall this morning and heard the news via text message when we were going past Bristol.

"I just can't believe it. We have been saving for so long. Elise and I work together and are both single mums. We have spent all our savings on this holiday.

"The boys are so excited about going on a plane, we don't know how we are going to tell them. We have talked to other operators about what's available but the only alternative will cost hundreds if not thousands of pounds. We just don't know what to do."

Meanwhile, holidaymakers who flew back to Birmingham on a flight from Greece yesterday heaved a huge sigh of relief.

XL flight KM6509 from Kavala arrived in Birmingham at 2.40pm - earlier than its 3.15pm schedule. Wednesfield couple Ian and Sharon Newill were on the flight.

The pair, of Heather Close, said many had been left stranded. Ian, aged 41, an estimator, said: "It was very confusing at the airport, no-one really knew what was going on - we just kept seeing cancelled signs flashing up next to more and more flights.

"Our rep didn't know what was happening until we went to pick people up from other resorts who had heard about XL.

"It is great to get back home. We know we are the lucky ones and really feel for all those people stuck out there, and those that have lost out on their holidays."

Martha Skariniotis, aged 48, from Redditch, who works for a villa rental company, was also on the afternoon flight. She said: "As we had the early flight we have got home all right, but I heard that people flying back to Newcastle will have to wait two or three days before they can get back."

Janet Wrenn, aged 66, of Droitwich Spa, was in Greece for a wedding and said she was extremely lucky to get back.