A WIDNES family has won £12,300 compensation after their dream holiday to Mexico turned into a disaster.

Dianne Blakeway, aged 57, her long distance lorry driver husband, Roy, aged 61, and sons, Ben, aged 20, an apprentice engineer, and Robert, aged 30, who works in shipping, fell ill with a violent gastric bug during their trip to the Gran Caribe Real Resort and Spa in Cancun.

They were with 24 relatives celebrating the family wedding of a great niece, in May, 2013.

Days before the illness struck, office worker Mrs Blakeway fell on her way to the restaurant, leaving her in severe pain and with soft tissue injuries and two slipped discs.

Thomas Cook initially denied liability but reached an out of court settlement.

The family received £5,800 for the illness and Mrs Blakeway was awarded a further £6,500.

Office worker Mrs Blakeway, from Hough Green, said: “What was supposed to be a holiday of a lifetime turned out to be marred by everything.

“I thought I was going to die. It was horrible.

“Insects were flying round the tables and birds stole food off the plates.

“After the outbreak the restaurant was closed for two days whilst men were seen disinfecting corridors and rooms.

“One girl had to have her room fumigated.

“They gave us plastic cups to drink from instead of glasses.”

They all had diarrhoea, nausea and stomach cramps.

They attended the wedding but couldn’t eat anything.

Mrs Blakemore added: “We had been really looking forward to it.

“We took some of our pension up front to pay for the four of us to go.

“I am thrilled with the outcome of the claim but nothing makes up for it.

“We were still ill on the long flight back and for 10 days after we came home.

“I’d never go to Mexico again.”

Tracy Stansfield, from Farnworth Rose solicitors, said: “It is very unfortunate to suffer both personal injury and illness whilst on holiday.

“I’m delighted we were able to help the Blakeways obtain compensation for the very nasty illnesses they experienced.”