A COUPLE endured a holiday from hell which saw them both end up in hospital.

David and Nadia Lonsdale were plagued by building works, bitten by hundreds of sand flies and claim they had raw sewage spread around their accommodation.

Upon arrival they also found their five star Paradisus Rio de Oro Resort & Spa in Cuba did not have the advertised swimming pool.

Mrs Lonsdale said she has been left feeling like hot lava is being poured over her hands after suffering a trapped nerve on the flight.

She suffered the injury after being forced to move seats and spent the first night of their holiday in hospital as a result.

She said she has been unable to work, run or drive since.

Her husband meanwhile suffered anaphylactic shock after being bitten by sand flies.

The couple claim their luxury resort then sprayed sewage water onto the gardens which they think may have turned Mr Lonsdale's already painful bites septic.

Thomas Cook advertises the resort as "a slice of tropical heaven"..

However, the company has only offered the couple £28 in compensation for changing their pre-booked flight seats.

University of Brighton lecturer Nadia, 51, from Rottingdean, who paid £3,300 for the holiday, described the compensation as a "slap in the face".

She said: "I am still ill and I'll be off work for a second month. My fingers are numb and I'm taking Diazepam.

"That was all from day one and things went from bad to worse."

Thomas Cook claim they told the couple the pool would be out of service during their stay but the couple insist they never received the email.

She added: "On the third day we went to the beach because there was no pool. Dave was bitten all over by sand flies."

Varndean lecturer David, 58, had already made enquiries about the types of insects in the area because he suffers from anaphylaxis.

After being bitten all over he started to go into shock and he had to use his EpiPen.

He said: "I received 278 bites. I asked to be moved to alternative accommodation, but were told that there are no other five star, adults only hotel in the area. The hotel then used water straight from sewage to water the gardens, the stench was absolutely disgusting."

He claims that shortly after the gardens were watered most of the bites on his legs and arms turned septic and he had to go to hospital to get antibiotics and antihistamines.

He added: "I was then confined to my room at which point we discovered that there were building works in the block next door."

A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said: "We take health and hygiene issues very seriously and routinely undertake independent third party audits. The resort is an extremely popular choice with our customers.

"It enjoys an excellent reputation with 94% of guests rating their holiday as good or excellent this summer, with no complaints received from any other customers in residence at the same time."