Travel firm warned of beds danger

Mildred Bowman and Alice Wardle may have been trapped for days

A holiday firm was warned about the dangers of wooden foldaway beds at a Spanish hotel four months before two Tyneside sisters died, it is claimed.

Alice Wardle, 67 and Mildred Bowman, 62, became trapped under the beds at Benidorm's Levante Club Apartments.

Relatives want a full inquiry after it emerged they could have lain undiscovered for four days.

Frank Kelly, 60, from Merseyside, said he wrote to tour operator MyTravel in April to complain about the beds.

Mr Kelly, from Bootle, said he was "sickened" when he learned about the deaths of the Gateshead sisters, who were killed when the heavy wooden bed frame came free and collapsed on them.

A police investigation is continuing and an inquest has been opened and adjourned into their deaths.

It was told the women could have lain undiscovered for four days.

Relatives have said they want "justice" for the pair.

Mr Kelly said: "When I heard what had happened I was angry and sickened.

We have acted quickly to the problems by removing all customers staying in these studio-style apartments from this property MyTravel spokeswoman

"I complained in April this year after I visited the apartments with my wife.

"When we arrived at our room we were shocked to discover the beds were pull-down, and for two nights we slept on a slope because we did not understand how to set them up.

"They weighed an absolute ton and were far too heavy to pull down single-handedly. Nobody showed us how they worked. This was an accident waiting to happen."

The sisters, from Gateshead, had pulled down the beds, stored against the wall, and apparently went to sleep on 31 July. But a heavy wooden frame fixed to the wall by screws came free and collapsed on them.

Their bodies were found side by side in the twin beds on 4 August, after relatives also holidaying in the resort, became concerned about them.

A spokeswoman for the Rochdale-based My Travel said: "The Kelly's complaint and the tragic deaths of Mrs Wardle and Mrs Bowman have brought the pull-down beds into question.

"The safety of all our guests is our highest priority. We have acted quickly to the problems by removing all customers staying in these studio-style apartments from this property.

"A full team of health and safety experts is currently working to investigate the safety of the beds."