A HOLIDAY company has launched an investigation after a family's 'holiday from hell' ended with a young dad being held by armed airport police.

The two-week holiday at the Los Lentiscos Apartments in Cala n Forcat, Menorca, turned into a nightmare when six-year-old Holly Iglesias began bleeding from her right ear -- her GP has since diagnosed a perforated eardrum.

Mum Debra, 29, has complained about the actions of holiday reps when she asked for help before her daughter was taken to hospital on the Spanish holiday island.

And she revealed that when arrangements were made for Holly and her dad Tony, 26, to take a later flight home they were held by airport police, who routinely carry guns.

Today Thomas Cook apologised to the family and said the information they had received was sufficient to prompt a probe into the allegations, which may result in disciplinary action.

Debra, of Railway Grove, Little Harwood, Blackburn, said: "We want them to shake the company up so this doesn't happen to somebody else. It is not acceptable at all."

Debra said the family holiday, with their other children Cara, 11, and Katie, 18 months, along with Tony's parents Patricia, 52, and Raymond, 67, began well.

In the second week Holly became poorly. Debra said she called emergency numbers for holiday reps with no response. The receptionist then alerted a doctor who said Holly should go to hospital.

She said: "She was put on an antibiotic drip. We didn't know what was happening because we could not understand."

She said she called the company herself and was asked to fax a medical report and insurance documents and claimed a rep only helped her after a poolside argument about the matter.

Tony stayed with Holly after the rest of the family flew home until she was well enough for the journey because he didn't want his wife and daughter staying on the island on their own.

They eventually flew home last Sunday and although Holly was on Debra's passport, she said they were told that a photocopy of the passport and a letter explaining the situation would be sufficient.

But on Sunday, Debra had to phone the British Embassy after Tony was held at Madrid airport on the way home by armed guards on suspicion of kidnapping Holly because they would not accept the photocopy. Debra said: "The officer had a gun. I was frantic by then but it took four and half hours to resolve, when I convinced them over the phone what had happened.

"All it needed was a rep to guide us through but they wouldn't."

A spokesman for Thomas Cook said: "Our resort representatives provide local advice and care to our customers overseas. If an individual's conduct undermines this important role it would be totally unacceptable to both their colleagues and the company.

"The feedback we have received in this case has led us to ask our local management to fully investigate this matter and, if it were found to be true, it would undoubtedly result in disciplinary action.

"We passed on the advice that the local authorities gave us regarding passport control to the family in good faith.

"We apologise for any inconvenience and distress that this may have subsequently caused but this is obviously a matter for the local authorities to explain."