Nicola Rennie, 22, and her boyfriend Ciaran Condron, 23, were desperately trying to get to get a flight back to the UK when they were told "the mob's coming".

The People's Alliance for Democracy, which has been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his government, seized control of Suvarnabhumi international airport on Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of all flights in and out of the capital and sending thousands of tourists back to Bangkok hotels.

Nicola, a third year University of Central Lancashire journalism student, said: "I was crying and I was upset. There were no announcements. It was just horrible and nobody knew what was going on.

"I hope we'll be able to get home this weekend. We're just sat watching the news constantly and they keep saying in 24 hours they will send the army in but they've been saying that for the last two days."

The couple were on the last day of the 10 day dream holiday and are now having to pay around £50 a night for another hotel in Bangkok.

Nicola added: "We had to wait four hours at the airport to speak to somebody. Everyone was upset. It was perfect until the last day of the holiday."