Couple home after bombing scare

The couple, who are engaged, celebrated Christmas in Bulwell

A woman who was caught up in a terrorist bombing attack has been reunited with her family in Nottingham.

Rachel Ringham, 24, and her Turkish fiancée escaped serious injury during the blast that ripped through the British consulate in Istanbul on 20 November.

Ten Turkish and British staff were killed in the consulate bombing.

Rachel and her 24-yer-old partner Hamdi Acikgoz are celebrating Christmas in Bulwell with her relatives after returning from Istanbul for the holiday.

Visa granted

The couple were standing in a queue outside the visa office at the British Embassy when a suicide bomber struck, but luckily they were not seriously injured.

Mr Acikgoz, who works as a restaurant manager in the Turkish town of Icmeler, said: "The first thing I wanted to do when I escaped the building was to find Rachel and make sure she was OK."

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen intervened to help obtain a visa for Hamid after he encountered some bureaucratic problems.

"Thankfully the visa application was accepted and that is why we have this happy scene this Christmas, " Mr Allen said.

The couple plan to return to Icmeler in late January.