British holidaymakers returning to the UK yesterday told of their terror at being caught close to the forest fires which have swept through parts of Greece.
Andy and Sarah James, of Welshpool, spoke of their relief at leaving Greece and flying home into Manchester Airport.
The couple had been enjoying a summer break with their two children when the fatal fire broke out in the beach resort of Hanioti on the Halkidiki peninsula.
Mr James said he was angry at the treatment they received from local officials, who he claimed had failed to keep them informed of the dangers.
He said: "It is has been an absolute nightmare. It has been absolutely berserk.
"We have been passed from pillar to post without being told what is going on."
His wife added: "We just cried. We could see the flames and just ran up the beach as far as we could.
"We thought, stay close to the beach. I have never, ever, been so frightened in my life. I am very relieved to be back."
The family described how they had been moved between several hotels as the fire advanced up the coast.
A German tourist was killed earlier this week as the flames destroyed around 9,000 acres of forest in the northern area of Greece.
Police and fire investigators believed the pattern of the blaze's progress suggested it may have been arson.
Hundreds of British holidaymakers were expected to be returning to the UK after their holidays were cut short by the inferno.
Firefighters were yesterday damping down woodland razed to the ground by the ferocious flames and attempting to stop the blaze spreading.
The worst affected areas were Hanioti, Pefkhori and Polichrono, where more than 50 homes were damaged.
Water planes and helicopters doused the blaze, which at one stage needed 250 firefighters and soldiers to control it.
Federation of Tour Operators' spokesman David Wiles said two UK holiday companies - Thomson and MyTravel - flew people home early today.
He went on: "A number of other Britons caught up in all this are due to fly home tomorrow as scheduled. Nearly all those who had to leave hotels are back in their original accommodation and only a few had to be put up elsewhere."
