MORE than 700 holidaymakers are taking action against a travel firm after being struck down with salmonella at a hotel complex in Turkey.

Many were only diagnosed with the illness after returning from the Holiday Village Turkey in the resort of Sarigerme.

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches, stomach cramps and fever, and can last for several days.

The virus usually originates in poultry, eggs, unprocessed milk and in meat and water.

Manchester-based law firm Pannone is now taking action against First Choice Travel on behalf of hundreds of clients, and believes the final number could top 1,000.

First Choice said its on-site doctor believed the illness was caused by an airborne virus and a cleaning and sanitation programme to prevent further spread of infection had been carried out.

Andy Humphries, 48, from Bury, who became ill on holiday, is involved in the action.

He paid £3,000 for a two-week break at the end of July for himself, wife Diane and daughters Samantha, 15, and Sophie 12.

Mr Humphries, a self employed heating engineer, was the only one in the party who was sick.

He said: "I spent the two days and nights vomiting and then I had diarrhoea for three days.

"I was so dehydrated I was put on a drip. I've never ever experienced illness like that before.

Nightmare

"I couldn't leave the room, it was a complete nightmare which ruined the holiday.

"There were children and adults in the corridors who all had the same thing.

"The holiday rep told me it was an airborne virus which had come with us from the north west - I was fuming and had to walk away.

"It was absolutely atrocious because we were not informed about what was going on."

Andrew Morton, from Pannone, said: "From all reports coming out of the resort, we expect the number of cases to rise significantly over the next few days. Estimates put those affected at well over 1,000."

He said anyone returning from the resort who has been ill should see their doctor immediately.

A spokeswoman for First Choice said: "As of 25 August, 3,057 guests were in residence at the Holiday Village Turkey. A very small proportion of these guests have reported being ill to the on-site doctor and they are being treated for what doctors believe is an airborne virus.

"As soon as our resort staff were alerted to the increased level of sickness amongst guests, additional hygiene procedures were implemented by the hotel as a precautionary measure, to minimise the chance of any further illness spreading.

"We are taking every precaution possible to safeguard the health and well being of our guests and, therefore an independent consultant visited the property and carried out a full inspection."