A family-of-14 is among thousands of Brits left stranded as a sandstorm in the Canary Islands grounds flights.
The Spanish region has been struck by a thick cloud of red dust which 'you can taste in the air'.
Sarah Smith, her husband Chris and their two sons Elliott and Owen, as well as 10 other members of Chris’ family are "in limbo" after the weather caused their flight home to be cancelled.
The family, from Ingham, Lincolnshire, were due to return home today a week’s stay in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote.
The Canary Islands has been struck by a thick cloud of red dust that has left more than 10,000 Brits stranded, reports Lincolnshire Live.
Sarah and her family were all packed and ready for their taxi to arrive when they got a text to say the Jet2 flight to Birmingham had been cancelled because of the weather.
Mrs Smith, 39, said: “We were all packed up. The flight was at 3.30pm. In the villa there are 14 of us and the taxi was supposed to park up at 12pm.
“We were all ready to go and we got a text message at 9.30am to say the flight was cancelled.
“It did say to go to the airport because they would sort out a hotel but we are in a villa and spoke to the owner who said they have no one coming in so they are quite happy for us to stay as long as we need to.”
Mrs Smith, who works for Lincolnshire County Council, had been due back to work today as had her husband, who works at an engineering firm in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
The couple’s two sons, who are 11 and eight, were also due back at school today.
She said on Monday: “The kids should have been back at school tomorrow because we took them out of school today.
“We should have been back at work tomorrow.
“We are kind of in limbo. We can’t unpack because we don’t know when we are leaving.”
She added: “It is just frustrating. We don’t know what quite is going on.”
The couple and the rest of their travelling party have seen online that they have been put onto a flight home on Wednesday, February 26, but they are still awaiting official confirmation from Jet2.
As well as needing to get back for work, the family have had to find someone to look after their guinea pig.
Their car is also still parked at Birmingham Airport, meaning they will have to fork out the extra money needed to compensate for that as well as the additional cost of food while they are away.
The family are confident any money spent can be claimed back off their holiday insurance, but for now say they are waiting for answers while continuing to be stuck in the difficult weather conditions.
Mrs Smith said: “It is just really thick, heavy cloud and it has coated everyone with a red dust.
“Every single surface is coated in thick, red dust. The pool, the table and our towels. Anything we leave outside.
“It’s been really windy. It coats your throat and your eyes. People have facemasks on. You take a breath and you can taste it.”
She added: “Someone we are with has a thyroid problem and she is running out of medication, so she is quite keen to go home.
“We are trying to make the most of a bad situation. It is not easy.
“A friend said: 'you are still on holiday, go and sunbathe and still enjoy your extra day of holiday.'
“It is not like that. It is not as easy as that [because of the weather and the stress of making alternative arrangements.
“We are just in limbo, really.”
A spokesman for Jet2 said: “Like all airlines operating to the Canary Islands, the adverse and changeable conditions affecting the area since the weekend have resulted in flights experiencing delays or having to be diverted to other airports.
"We would like to apologise to all affected customers for any inconvenience caused by these extraordinary circumstances, which are completely beyond our control. Our teams are working tirelessly to look after customers and to get everyone to their intended destination as soon as possible.”
For the most up to date flight information please click here: https://www.jet2.com/en/latest-travel-information
