A NORTH-EAST family who became trapped on a cruise ship in Greek waters were last night facing a race against time to make their flight home.

Mel and Joan Mason and their 14-year-old son Christopher, from County Durham, were among 100 Britons stuck on the Triton liner after the ship's owners, Royal Olympia Cruises, cut short an 11-day cruise because of a financial row.

On New Year's Eve they were let off the vessel at Patras, in Greece, where they said they had to wait two hours in the rain until being allowed on to a ferry.

Last night, the ferry was travelling across the Adriatic Sea to Venice, where the Mason family were this morning due to catch a bus to take them to Genoa for their 2.50pm flight.

Mr Mason, who called The Northern Echo from the ferry, said: "We are due to arrive at Venice at 7am but then we have got to get across Italy to make our flight.

"It's going to be a real race against time and not how we imagined our relaxing holiday ending."

Mr Mason said tempers became frayed on New Year's Eve after passengers were not allowed on to the ferry.

"People were getting very angry," he said, adding that passengers were tired and wanted to get home.

The Northern Echo was unable to contact the cruise company for comment.