Tourists stranded as jet grounded

Seguro says it is working to resolve the situation

Hundreds of holidaymakers have been stranded in the Canary Islands after a holiday firm's only plane was grounded.

The tourists faced a third day stuck on the islands with no prospect of returning home.

The passengers have been left on Gran Canaria since Saturday when a company's charter plane developed a technical problem and was banned from flying.

More than 1,000 Seguro Holidays passengers faced delays after all of its Prestwick flights were cancelled.

Hundreds had to spend the night in hotels in Scotland and abroad as they waited to discover whether their holiday flights would go ahead.

Seguro has now managed to charter replacement planes for some routes and flights will leave for Faro and Alicante on Monday.

Those staying in self-catering accommodation have been given money for food and drink and our reps are visiting them regularly Richard Burke Seguro Holidays

However, the company has not managed to find a plane to make the two flights to Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.

About 330 passengers who were due to fly out from Prestwick on Saturday have been given a refund for their cancelled holiday.

The plane was supposed to bring holidaymakers back from Las Palmas but they were left with no means of getting home.

Declared safe

Richard Burke, managing director of Seguro, said: "We are not sure what is happening about the people in Las Palmas at the moment though we are doing all we can to get them home.

"Those staying in self-catering accommodation have been given money for food and drink and our reps are visiting them regularly."

Seguro's own plane, chartered from Sky Wings, has had its licence suspended due to a problem with its navigation system and will not be allowed to take off again until it is declared safe to fly.

Mr Burke said: "It is with our deepest regret that we had to cancel the flights to Las Palmas but it is something that we can't control, as it is a technical fault with the plane.

"We will terminate our contract with Sky Wings if we can find another plane to operate until the end of the season."

Have you been affected by the problems with Seguro? You can contact us at [e-mail].