A couple caught up in the hurricane which battered Mexico, Cuba and Florida were finally reunited with their concerned families after arriving back at Gatwick yesterday.

Claire Stevenson, 20, and Dan Sanger, 26, thought their trip to the popular Mexican resort of Cancun would be the holiday of a lifetime.

But things turned nasty for the Uckfield pair when it became clear Hurricane Wilma was on its way last Thursday.

The terrified couple sat out the storm in their hotel room as winds of up to 125 mph pounded the resort.

Outside, at least six people were killed in a storm which destroyed hotels and thousands of homes.

The couple cowered inside as police and marines fired shots at looters who helped themselves to goods from devastated shops and homes.

Miss Stevenson, who works in corporate entertainment, said: "We were pretty lucky really because our hotel was fairly safe and not on the coastline.

"Thousands of other people had to sleep in school halls on towels.

"We were virtually prisoners in the hotel. We could not leave straight away and when they eventually let us it was chaos outside.

"The devastation was unbelievable and many of the American tourists were panicking.

"The storm was frightening but once that had passed, the problem was surviving and trying to get home.

"All of a sudden, the places that served food hiked the prices up and we had no access to cash."

Mr Sangar, who lives with Claire in the Ridgewood area of Uckfield, said: "The people serving us in the hotel told us their homes had been looted and the shops had armed guards.

"It just descended into chaos.

"It seemed the British people were the only ones being calm.

"One of the worst things was not knowing anything."

The couple were booked to return home on Sunday and eventually started travelling home on Tuesday after being blockaded in the hotel for three days.

The journey involved a 12-hour bus trip to Merida.

Their flight home went via the Dominican Republic and Manchester, where, to make matters worse, their baggage was left.

Miss Stevenson said: "All I want is a shower.

"We've only had about six hours' sleep since Tuesday. So much for a relaxing holiday."

Mr Sangar said: "I think we would go back but not in hurricane season."

Waiting at the airport was Miss Stevenson's mother Terri, of Nether Lane, Nutley, who said: "It has been an anxious few days.

"We had phone contact after the hurricane so we knew they were OK but have not heard anything since.

"I've just been glued to the news coverage.

"I was afraid but I knew they were pretty practical and resourceful."

Wilma, the strongest hurricane to hit Florida in 13 years, killed 23 people.