Campers in Channel dash

HOLIDAYMAKERS have broken out of a Calpe campsite and are making a dash for the Channel Tunnel and the UK in convoy.

Five families hit the road yesterday (Thursday) in their mobile homes and plan to be on a train to make the final hop across the ditch on Monday morning.

Terry Pearson has nicknamed the convoy The Great Escape and the determined band of travellers is following official advice for British nationals in Spain: non-residents should return to Britain.

Terry and his wife Jeanette, from Green Hammerton, near Harrogate, have been touring Spain for six weeks. They have cut their break short by six weeks ahead of Camping Sol Austral closing its doors because of the Covid19 emergency on Tuesday.

“We have arranged a convoy to get home, leaving tomorrow,” he told CBN on Wednesday evening. There are five campervans travelling together.

“We have booked ourselves the same train through the tunnel on Monday morning,”

Last weekend sister site Camping Sol Boreal closed and vans moved to Sol Austral - at the same time the bar, pool, entertainment, toilets, showers and reception went into lockdown - although mobile homes have their own sanitary facilities.

“The biggest thing for me was the reception closing and not having someone there in case of emergency, all these vans packed close together; I have had two dear friends one a nephew - who were killed in a caravan fire...safety is something close to my heart,” he said.

It was the couple’s second visit to Spain in the mobile home, although Terry is a veteran of numerous golf trips over the years.

“Until last week we were thoroughly enjoying our stay; then the emergency arrived and it was chaos - all the fun on the site just went,” he said.

“Staff on the site were absolutely wonderful and friendly; unfortunately, they have to follow company instructions...when push came to shove, we had to do something - but we will be back next year.”