Tourists seized for playing bingo

Sarah Holland and Carla Harrison are still on holiday in Turkey

Two Denbighshire women were seized by police after being caught playing bingo in a bar while on holiday in Turkey.

Friends Sarah Holland and Carla Harrison, both 25, were among a group of around 30 tourists playing for a free drink at the bar in Altinkum.

They said they were unaware unlicensed gambling was illegal in Turkey, and were fined 117 Turkish Lira (£42) each.

A spokeswoman for the Turkish Consulate in London said they could not comment.

The pair, who are still on holiday, said they were playing bingo with around 30 other tourists when police arrived at the Sunshine Bar.

We thought we were on Candid Camera until we were hustled into a van and taken to the police station Sarah Holland

Office manager Ms Holland, from Kinmel Bay, said: "It was completely and utterly stupid.

"We were all having a fun time and then the police turned up and forced us to fill out forms.

"For some reason they picked us out and we were taken to the station for questioning over a game of bingo and then fined.

"We thought we were on Candid Camera until we were hustled into a van and taken to the police station."

Criminal record

She said they were not formally arrested, but were questioned until the early hours at a police station, where they discovered the forms were an agreement to pay a fine.

While just a few of the tourists were questioned at the station, the women claimed every member of the group was fined.

Ms Harrison, a swimming teacher from Rhyl, said: "It makes you wonder what the police do all day to break up a simple game of bingo.

"I didn't even know it was illegal to gamble in Turkey without a licence. I've even seen betting shops out here, so how would we know?

"My advice to anyone else coming to Turkey is, 'don't play bingo'.

"They seized the bingo ball and took our tickets away from us. It was a terrifying experience and very scary. They're all armed over here."