A COUPLE left 'stranded in the middle of nowhere' after their taxi driver was overcome by mystery illness left traumatised.

After a two weeks in Cyprus, Scott Majury and his partner Kerryanne Smith were making their way back to the airport when their taxi driver was taken ill at the side of the road.

Mr Majury who is from Darwen said the driver had been acting strangely throughout the journey, stopping at one point to meet with a man on a moped before returning to the car.

The 30-year-old said: "It was very strange, about 40 minutes into the journey the driver stopped and got out to speak with someone on a red moped.

"Then he asked if we wanted a drink and stopped at a garage.

"We were getting quite mad at this point because we were worried about getting to the airport."

The taxi had been provided by Cyprobus through the couple's holiday provider Cyprus Paradise.

Mr Majury said: "On his way back to the car he was staggering and swaying all over the place, he looked like he was drunk.

"As he went to get in the car he fell onto the front seat.

"At first it looked like he was laughing then my girlfriend said he was having a fit.

"I jumped over into the front seat to see if he was alright and he looked like he was choking.

"We rang for an ambulance but no help was coming so some of the locals drove his taxi to the hospital.

"We were left stranded in the middle of nowhere.

"My girlfriend was crying and saying what are we going to do we're going to miss our flight.

"We managed to get a taxi but he charged us the equivalent of £66 for a journey that we had paid for in the price of the holiday.

"To top it all off, I was searched and swabbed for drugs at the airport because I was so panicked I must have looked suspicious.

"I understand these are the rules and regulations of the times we're living in but they did it in front of all the other passengers.

"I was really embarrassed, they could have taken me someone private to do it.

Mr Majury has contacted his holiday provider who have returned the money they paid for the taxi.

"It is good of them to offer but it does not make up for the trauma of what we went through.

"It was really shocking and scary, you would have to be put in that situation to understand.

"We don't know what happened to the taxi driver, I spoke to our rep but he doesn't know.

"Why did he stop to meet that guy on the moped? It's suspicious."

A spokesman from Cyprus Paradise said: "We are sorry this happened to Mr Majury and Miss Smith but it is an unfortunate incident.

"We provided all aspects of the service they paid for and have reimbursed them for the price of the taxi.

"We have given a very speedy response and reimbursed them in good faith without asking for a receipt.

"I have spoken with the taxi provider Cyprobus to but there is no information about the condition of the driver.

"I am sure they would not employ someone who is drunk."