HOLIDAYMAKERS from the region have spoken of their horror abroad the P&O Cruise Ship struck by a contagious stomach bug.

About 500 passengers and 17 crew caught the norovirus aboard the Aurora on its nightmare journey around the Mediterranean.

And yesterday, the ship sailed into more trouble when Spain closed its border with Gibraltar, where the Aurora was docked, saying it was a preventative measure to safeguard public health.

The move was criticised by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who said the Spanish Government's action was "unnecessary and disproportionate".

Passengers were refused entry to Greece on Friday over fears about their health but a Gibraltan public health official boarded the ship yesterday morning and declared that healthy people could go on land.

P&O now say that only 11 passengers have the virus and that the outbreak is almost at an end.

Among those on board the ship are retired couple Ray and Elizabeth Duffy from Northallerton and Robert Jackson, 70, from Yarm who had been hit by the bug.

He said: ''I was ill for a few days but the staff looked after us very well on board. It was not nice. I had a bad stomach. It could have been worse but I'm fine now.

"One or two people were upset because they were not allowed out of their cabins.

"A couple of people were very ill. One man of 78 and another lady of 74 had to stay in their cabins for 48 hours."

It is believed that the infection was brought on board by a passenger at Southampton when it left port on October 20 for a 17-day round trip.

A spokesman for P&O Cruises said: "Due to our highly effective protocols in managing the virus which has affected this cruise, we are pleased to report that the illness has been arrested.

"A small number of passengers who are still recovering were required to stay on board."

The ship left Gibraltar at teatime yesterday and is now scheduled to arrive back in Southampton on Thursday morning.

Spain later later reopened the border as the political row continued to rage last night.