LAWYERS are investigating conditions at a luxury resort after a 62-year-old described falling ill on returning from holiday with his wife.

Clive Roberts and his wife Caroline, from Lancing, stayed at the Barceló Maya Tropical resort in Mexico last March to celebrate her 60th birthday.

But on his first day back at work as a scaffolder, Mr Roberts started suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea and fever, his lawyers at Irwin Mitchell said.

He was diagnosed with Sepsis and Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of an E. coli infection, they added.

His lawyers are now looking into health and safety standards at the hotel after Mr Roberts said he had seeing birds inside one of the restaurants pecking at leftover food and some chilled food was served at room temperature.

Father-of-two Mr Roberts said: “To fall seriously ill immediately after coming back to the UK and end up spending three weeks in hospital has meant the memories of the holiday and Caroline’s 60th birthday have been ruined forever.

“We want to know what caused me to fall so ill and that the hygiene concerns we have raised will be looked into, if they have not done it already, so that other people looking forward to a Mexican break at this hotel will not go through the ordeal we have endured.”

Lawyer Jatinder Paul, from Irwin Mitchell, said Mr and Mrs Roberts' reports were "clearly a cause for concern"

He added: “It is important that any health and hygiene problems are quickly identified and rectified so that other holidaymakers do not endure the terrible illness Clive has been through.”

He urged anyone else who has suffered similar problems during or immediately after a stay at the Barceló Maya Tropical resort, in north-east Mexico, to get in touch.

A spokesman for Barcelo said Mr and Mrs Roberts had not been in direct contact with the hotel since their stay.

She added: "We hope that he has made a full recovery.

"The hotel adheres to all health and safety inspections.

"We take the wellbeing of our guests extremely seriously and will conduct every necessary investigation."