THE family of a North-East woman killed in an overseas terrorist attack have relived the horror to help future victims.

In July last year, a bomb explosion in Turkey claimed the life of 21-year-old Helyn Bennett, from Spennymoor, County Durham, while on a family holiday.

Now her mother, Sharon Holden, and aunt Toni Punshon, are using their tragic experiences to support others.

The twin sisters, 42, spoke to public transport bosses and aid agencies about how they could better cope with any future natural disasters or terrorist attacks at home or abroad.

In the days before the conference, hosted by the Association of Train Operating Companies, Mrs Holden broke down every time she rehearsed her presentation.

But such is her determination to ease the trauma of families who could find themselves in the same position as her own, that she managed to speak in front of 340 airport, underground and rail bosses.

She said: "We want to get something positive out of the tragedy, it is what Helyn would have wanted.

"I feel another attack is imminent, so the people who could be on the ground when it happens need to be prepared.

"It was really hard going back over what happened to us and telling them about the good and bad ways people dealt with us. We had never spoken in public before, but we needed to do it.

"We hope people will start listening and take notice, to train staff on how to cope in future and how they can be more sensitive, supportive and helpful to relatives."

Mrs Holden has also made a training video advising Foreign Office personnel how to deal with victims of future tragedies.

She also wants to address the tourism industry with similar advice as she felt that travel representatives in Kusadasi offered poor advice and support to her family.

Four other members of the family and Helyn's fiancee were badly hurt in the blast as they travelled to the beach on the bus that exploded.

Mrs Holden and three other members of the party escaped because they took a day trip to a Greek island.

She said: "We stood in a car park surrounded by people when a holiday rep told us Helyn was dead and the others hurt.

"Some of the reps were crying and couldn't help us and others were really unhelpful. If the travel companies think that is acceptable they are wrong.

"The staff need training so they can be sensitive and offer useful advice if it happens again."