A NEWLYWED couple today revealed how al-Qaeda terrorist threats turned their dream honeymoon into a terrifying ordeal.

William and Victoria Slater, of Higher Trapp Farm, near Simonstone, arrived home after having to cut short their honeymoon to Mombasa, Kenya, by five days.

They were caught-up in terrorist alerts which resulted in all flights between Kenya and Britain being grounded by the Foreign Office as suspected al-Qaeda suicide bombers struck in other east African countries.

Mrs Slater, 30, said: "We didn't know whether to stay in the hotel and face being blown up or get on a flight and be blown up."

The couple now say they are to seek compensation from holiday company First Choice and their case for amends has been backed by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans. But a First Choice spokesman has said they couple are not eligible for compensation because the situation was beyond the tour operator's control.

They stayed at the four-star hotel the Travellers Beach, in Mombasa, for nine days of what was planned to be a fortnight's honeymoon. Problems started for the newly-weds after just two days in the resort.

The couple, who were married in St Philip's Church, Padiham, got the news from the satellite TV in the hotel that all flights had been grounded. They were offered a flight home to the UK by First Choice but were told they would not be compensated and would lose the rest of their honeymoon.

They inquired if they could be taken to a new holiday destination but were told it would be a further £374 on top of the £1,400 they had already paid for the honeymoon, which they couldn't afford.

The couple, who actually arrived home last Thursday, should only have landed back in the UK tomorrow. Mrs Slater, who owns a livery and stud farm, said: "The manager told us to stay in the hotel and enjoy the rest of the holiday or take the return flight home without any compensation. "How could we enjoy it? We could not relax, it was just stress and anxiety."

The couple said that things became fraught in the hotel as British tourists began to feel they would be the target of suicide bombers. Mr Slater, a joiner, did not feel it was safe to stay, but Mrs Slater did not want to fly for fear of bombings.

They spent most of the time by the pool, in the hotel's restaurant and in their room, but said they could not relax. They ventued out of their hotel once to a nightclub but did not feel it was safe to do so again.

And the couple learnt they were staying just three miles from the Paradise Hotel, Mombasa, which was hit by al-Qaeda suicide bombers in November, killing 16 and injuring 40.

Mrs Slater said: "It just seemed like the world had gone mad. Every time we looked there were more suicide bombs. There were rumours going round that trucks of explosives had been found on Mombasa highway. Everybody was on pins.

Now that we are back home we need a holiday."

In the end, the intervention of Nigel Evans MP meant the couple got a flight to Nairobi and they arrived in Manchester airport late last week. Mr Evans said: "I am delighted the couple are home safely and sorry that their honeymoon was ruined. Hopefully, they will now be properly compensated by the holiday company.

"I think in future if possible threats do appear in parts of the world represented by a British High Commission, the Foreign Office should make sure that those already out there are given appropriate guidance."

A First Choice spokesman said: "We regret that their honeymoon was affected but the situation was beyond our control. Our staff were doing everything they could to keep customers up-to-date with what was happening, but there was only a certain amount of information available.

"We did offer a flight but they then refused to travel on it."