TWO pensioner councillors are demanding an apology and the refund of a £153 surcharge from a major company after its late changes ‘ruined’ their annual summer holiday in Benidorm.

Rossendale Conservatives Jimmy Eaton, 70, and his 68-year-old wife Janet Eaton have sworn never to use TUI again after this year’s fiasco.

They said the company’s offer of a £50 voucher against future trips was ‘scandalous’.

In November the couple from Hoghton Avenue, Bacup, want to TUI’s Burnley office to book the same two-week holiday at the Riudor Hotel in Benidorm they had enjoyed for the previous five years.

The £1,474 summer break involved flying out at 5.30pm from Manchester airport to Alicante on May 9.

In February they were told their flights had been cancelled and would have to fly at 7am on May 7, then told their chosen hotel was no longer available and finally offered either a full refund or rebooking with another hotel in Benidorm.

They would have to pay an extra £153 for mid-morning flights with another carrier.

Cllr Jimmy, who represents Greensclough ward on Rossendale Council and Rossendale East on Lancashire County Council, said their holiday was a ‘big disappointment’.

He said: “We had gone with TUI for five years to the Riudor and really enjoyed it.

“This year the company changed everything several times and then charged us an extra £153 for the privilege.

“It did offer us the option of cancelling and a full refund but it was too late for us to book a suitable alternative.

“We didn’t like the new hotel and the food was poor. It was big disappointment.

“The staff in Burnley were very apologetic but all TUI offered us was a £50 voucher to spend on it holidays.

“That is inadequate and scandalous. It’s neither use nor ornament to us as we won’t be using them again.

“We want the extra £153 for the flights back and a full apology.”

Cllr Janet Eaton, who represents Irwell ward, said: “The holiday was very disappointing. This is just no good enough from TUI.”

A TUI UK spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear that Mr Eaton did not enjoy his holiday. We notified the customer following some flight changes to his booking and offered alternatives including the option of a full refund.

“We made sure that the customer was aware of their options and they decided to book to stay in an alternative hotel to suit their preferred flights.

“A gesture of goodwill has been offered.”