‘Terrorists aren’t going to ruin our holiday’

The couple, who are on a fortnight's break in Olu Deniz, near the bomb-hit resort of Marmaris, were given the option to come home by their travel agent, but instead decided to complete their break.

Paul Smith, owner of Quartz Travel, in Heworth, said although he could not name the pair, he had spoken to them by mobile phone and they said "terrorists aren't going to ruin our holiday".

Turkish police say they are hunting two suspects over an explosion in the resort town of Antalya that left three dead and hurt at least 20 on Monday.

The Press reported on Tuesday that the blast came hours after at least 27 people were hurt when bombs exploded in Istanbul and Marmaris.

Most of those injured in Marmaris - including ten Britons - were on a minibus ferrying local people and holidaymakers along the main street.

A Kurdish militant group linked to the banned PKK party has said it carried out all three attacks.

Mr Smith said: "We always take a contact number from our customers while they are away and we have touched base with this couple who are in Turkey at the minute.

"They were of the opinion that leaving would be letting the terrorists ruin their holiday so they decided to stay.

"I am not sure how much if anything they have seen of what has been going on, perhaps that will become more clear when they fly home on Friday.

"We have a family going out in about a week's time and they have also made the decision to go."

Maureen Whitbread, manager of Travelwise, in Tadcaster, said although the company did not have any customers out in Turkey, some travellers were worried.

She said: "I think it's understandable that people are worried especially when a resort like Marmaris has been targeted. It's not like it's out on a limb somewhere, it's bound to worry some people."

Security has been tightened on Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean coasts as police hunt the attackers.

Five of the Britons injured in Marmaris were Thomas Cook customers. A spokeswoman for the travel agent said: "Some of our customers who were involved in the incident are still in hospital being looked after.

"Currently, the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is still saying it's fine to travel to Turkey and tour operators are continuing to take people to the country."

Both Marmaris and Antalya are popular with European and Russian holidaymakers.

The attacks are the latest in a wave of similar bombings in Turkey in recent years, blamed on either Kurdish separatists, Islamic militants or left-wing extremists.