Missing pensioners 'unaware' of hunt

Mr Sheppard and Mr Houghton: Journey made them ill

The British pensioners missing in France have said the first they knew of the massive hunt for them was when the police turned up at their rented apartment in Argeles-sur-Mer.

Roy Houghton and Walter Sheppard told reporters on Friday they had simply changed their holiday plans due to illness.

Mr Houghton, his wife Alice, and Alice's brother Mr Sheppard sparked the search when they failed to turn up to a rented apartment in the coastal town of Collioure on Saturday or to contact their family.

Mr and Mrs Houghton's grandson Scott Goodfellow, who is waiting for a phone call from them, told BBC Three Counties Radio: "We're going to cut up their passports."

There were fears for Alice Houghton's health

The family had been unable to understand why they had not heard from the trio since Saturday, when they had phoned to say they were an hour's drive away from the apartment they had booked.

There were concerns for the trio's health, as they are aged between 77 and 80 and described as being frail and on medication.

Police in France used helicopters and boats to hunt for the elderly Britons, and police in Spain were also alerted.

Bedfordshire Police had been due to decide today whether to send officers over to France to join in the search.

However, Mr Houghton, from Bedfordshire, and Mr Sheppard, from Nottingham, said on Friday they had simply changed their holiday plans because they were feeling ill.

'Very embarrassed'

"We came a very long journey, probably unwisely, and it made us ill," said Mr Houghton.

They had arrived at the booked apartment, seen that it had several steps leading up to it, and realised it was at a high altitude.

So they turned round to Perpignan and booked into a hotel last weekend.

They had then found a more suitable villa nearby in Argeles-sur-Mer - but it had no phone, and they were feeling too ill to go and find one to notify their family.

Mrs Houghton had a pain in her shoulder, and Mr Houghton had heart palpitations.

"We've been out of contact with the world while it's poured down," said Mr Houghton.

"But fortunately the French gendarmerie came and sorted us out."

When police turned up on their doorstep in the early hours of Friday morning - having been alerted by the apartment's owner - they at first thought they were wanted for a crime.

The trio are now said to be very "embarrassed" by the massive police search.

They are now seeking medical attention before deciding whether to continue on their six-week holiday.

"I'm very grateful to the gendarmerie for everything they've done for us," said Mr Houghton.

'Over the moon'

Back in Britain, their family said they were "very relieved" by the news their relatives were safe.

Mr and Mrs Houghton's son Pete said: "Our worst fear was that they had been carjacked and were lying dead somewhere in a French barn and that a drug addict was using their credit card.

"That's the kind of thing that runs through your mind."

Mr Sheppard's daughter Tina, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, said: "I am very relieved that they have been found safe.

"It has been a very worrying few days."

And Mr Goodfellow told the BBC: "Me and my family are over the moon - this is the news we've been waiting for.

"All's well that ends well."