Thai worry for rugby star's wife

England rugby league captain Jamie Peacock's heavily pregnant wife and four-year-old son are among thousands of British travellers stuck in Bangkok.

They remain stranded as anti-government airport protests enter a fourth day, the Leeds Rhinos star said.

Peacock said he was worried the stress could bring on an early labour and his wife needed an injection.

Demonstrators have shut down the main airports in Bangkok, with a state of emergency declared around both.

Peacock, England's World Cup captain, said the incident had been "pretty frightening" for his wife Faye, son Lewis and 60-year-old mother-in-law Pat.

'Innocent people'

He said they were "effectively being held hostage in Bangkok".

"There seems to be no way out of there at the moment," he said.

She's trying to stay calm but she's starting to get upset; she's feeling pretty helpless Jamie Peacock More stories from Bangkok

"It's rather frustrating to be honest and I'm worrying as well. She's 31-weeks now, she's just on the limit of being able to fly back.

"She needs to have an Anti-D injection and that was due on Thursday and so it's vitally important they try and get her home now."

He said he was angry with the protesters, whose actions had affected "lots of innocent people".

Mrs Peacock and her family had been in Australia to watch her husband play in World Cup matches.

They had originally been due to stop in Bangkok for 18 hours but, according to Mr Peacock, were now in a hotel in the Thai capital.

Airline offer

"She's trying to stay calm but she's starting to get upset, she's feeling pretty helpless," he added.

"She's flying with Scandinavian Airlines who say they've offered to fly into the Thai military bases instead, but the Thai government haven't given them a reply yet.

"The Foreign Office have just said it's down to the airline to get something sorted out."

The Thai government has started to bus some travellers to U-Tapao airport, about 150 km (90 miles) east of Bangkok, as an alternative to the closed airports.

But a spokesman for Scandinavian Airlines said: "SAS has chosen not to fly to U-Tapao international airport at the moment for a number of reasons.

"U-Tapao is a small airport with very basic infrastructure and SAS puts its passengers' safety ahead of everything else.

"We continue to monitor the situation and are working on alternatives to get our passengers home as fast as possible in the safest way."

'Deeply concerning'

Demonstrators at the city's main international airport, Suvarnabhumi, say they will defend themselves against any attempt by police to remove them.

The airport, one of Asia's busiest, is closed and an unknown number of frustrated tourists are stranded until it can reopen.

The Foreign Office said all Britons had been evacuated from the airport to hotels, and consular assistance would be provided for anyone who required it.

Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said: "The situation facing the many British nationals stranded in Bangkok is frustrating and deeply concerning.

"Our priority is to help them get home, and I am grateful for the support provided by the Thai authorities to those affected.

"Our consular teams on the ground and in London are doing all they can to help. They are taking numerous calls and are meeting as many British nationals as possible.

"Our travel advice is regularly updated, and I urge people to monitor it closely."

Three options

Travel association Abta said the number of Britons affected by the unrest was in the low thousands.

A spokesman said tour operators were looking after their customers, with many paying for accommodation or at least negotiating a cheaper rate.

He added those hoping to travel to Bangkok are being offered three options - to defer the trip; travel to an alternative destination or take a refund.

Travellers have been moved out of the international airport into hotels

Thailand is a popular holiday destination, particularly for independent travellers, who have been told to contact their airline.

Student travel company STA has about 100 customers in Bangkok, most of whom are backpackers in their teens and early 20s.

A STA spokeswoman said it had not received many calls from stranded customers, but the company was trying to get in touch with all of them.

It has said it will waive fees for those wanting to change their flight dates.

British Airways said its one flight a day from Heathrow to Bangkok to Sydney had been re-routed via Singapore, and the same applied to return flights.

A spokesman said those wanting to fly to Bangkok could re-book or have a refund.

Thai Airways's website said all inbound and outbound flights from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports were temporarily suspended.

"It is anticipated operations will resume late 29 November," it said.

The Don Mueang domestic airport was shut down after protesters blocked the terminal building, in an apparent attempt to stop officials flying to meet the Thai prime minister, who is in the northern city of Chiang Mai.