A family were last night preparing to fly home to Sussex after their dream holiday to Kenya turned to horror.

Peter and Hazel Davidson, from Worthing, and their twin 18-year-old daughters Melissa and Meg were two days into their stay in Mombasa when terrorists blew up a hotel just a mile away.

The Davidsons heard the blast as three terrorists rammed a jeep laden with explosives into the Paradise Hotel, killing 15 Israelis.

Lying on their sun-loungers at the Sea 'n Sands Hotel in Mombasa, at first they did not realise the tragedy that was unfolding just down the road.

Mrs Davidson, 46, said: "We could see the smoke rising, smell that acrid cloying odour of flesh burning.

"We thought it must have been a gas explosion. We never thought for a second it might be a bomb."

The family has decided to abandon the holiday, missing out on the five-day trip to the Masai Marasafari park, which was to be the highlight of their second week.

They are furious with the British Government for failing to warn tourists Kenya could be the next terrorist target.

Mr Davidson echoed the sentiments of other British holidaymakers in East Africa as he demanded to know why the Government stood back and allowed them to travel there.

The 52-year-old father said: "What I want to know is, why we weren't told?

"Angry? I'm furious. Furious there were no government warnings at home. Don't tell me the British Government didn't know.

"Some Americans at a restaurant last night told us their government had put out a warning on its web site. At least they could make the choice.

"If my daughters were lying in the morgue at Mombasa hospital, wrapped in green body bags, I would be asking a lot of questions about why holidaymakers like me were not given more information."

Australians were warned on November 12 that, in the light of new information, holidaymakers were advised to defer all non-essential travel to Mombasa.

The US State department, in its web site information about Kenya, pointed to the threat posed by its proximity to Somalia, believed to be home to a number of al-Qaeda sympathisers.

Meanwhile, Britain issued only a general warning to "be aware of indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets".

Police in Kenya are holding several Pakistani and Somali men for questioning in connection with the bombing and the abortive missile attack on an Israeli-owned plane taking off from Mombasa airport.

l Undercover armed police could travel on flights out of Gatwick to prevent terrorist hijackings.

Home Secretary David Blunkett and Transport Secretary Alistair Darling are considering proposals to place "sky marshals" on major airlines, the Government confirmed.

It was one of the recommendations in a report by Sir John Wheeler.

Airlines could be asked to contribute to the cost. A similar scheme in Australia costs £500 million a year.