A DISAPPOINTED couple are demanding their money back after their dream holiday failed to get off the ground.

Ann Brown and partner Terry Holden missed their Heathrow flight to Portugal by just minutes due to delays caused by the British Airways strike.

The couple, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, had been due to get a British Airways connecting flight from Newcastle to Heathrow on Saturday afternoon in order to connect with another flight to Portugal in the evening.

On Friday evening, Ms Brown and Mr Holden tried constantly to contact the designated helpline when they found out about the strike - but it was engaged.

Instead, they contacted Newcastle Airport at 10.30am on Saturday to be told their flight had been cancelled but alternative travel would be given to them.

Mr Holden said: "We did think about driving down there but they said they would sort out an alternative.''

However, a series of mishaps at Newcastle meant that the couple arrived at Heathrow just as their flight to Portugal was leaving, shattering their dream of a relaxing holiday - a cruise down the River Douro.

Mr Holden said: "When we got to Newcastle they said that the flight was back on, so we booked our luggage on. At 12.45pm, they announced that it had been cancelled and we had to collect our luggage.''

It took about two and a half hours for the couple to get their luggage back, and they could not get a train from Newcastle station until 3pm.

Mr Holden said: "There was no sense of urgency.

"They knew a lot of people were having to meet a connecting flight but they just did not seem to care.

"We are angry and disappointed. We have been through everything and we just keep wondering what we have done wrong.

"When we spoke to people at the airport, we were told that BA had done their job because they got us to Heath-row. I just wish I could speak to somebody at BA customer service, but we cannot get through, so we have written.''

A British Airways spokeswoman apologised for any inconvenience caused by the strike, but said she could not comment on individual cases.

She said: "I can assure the couple that their case will be investigated.''