TRAPPED IN SWEAT BOX

Holidaymakers forced to sleep on mattresses in sports and school halls as travel firms accused of letting customers down

- JACKIE GRANT

SCOTS holidaymakers are stranded in "sweat box" evacuation centres in Rhodes as wildfires continue to sweep across the Greek island.

Desperate families who had to flee their hotels without their belongings are now sleeping on mattresses in sports halls and schools.

East Kilbride couple Jim and Christine Harper were among those taken straight to a basketball venue housing hundreds of tourists after their flight from Glasgow landed on Saturday night.

Jim, 66, said: "We arrived to pandemonium at the airport about 11.30pm and when we were on the bus, you could see the fires burning everywhere.

"We've been speaking to other Scots who were sitting by the pools at their hotels and saw smoke, then fire running down hills.

"They fled to the beach for safety without clothes or passports and they're absolutely traumatised.

Jim praised the local response to the thick smoke and flames engulfing parts of the island.

Hotels in resorts including Lindos and Pefkos are among those to have been evacuated.

Jim said: "The local government in Rhodes, along with volunteers from the Red Cross and the Boy Scouts, have been amazing.

"They're keeping us fed and watered and there's medical staff and police also on hand.

"We've got to try and keep our spirits up but it's like a sweat box in this stadium and it's getting busier all the time.

"Lots of young children are really distressed and have been screaming, which is adding to the tension in here.