SPANISH skies wept over the southern holiday coast as Kent expats joined local townsfolk in three days of mourning for the victims of the bombing outrage in Madrid.

The rains, which raised millions of umbrellas in the city while stunned residents filled the streets in protest against the terrorists, spread to the Almeria region of Andalucia over the weekend as if to underscore the grief which is being felt throughout the country.

In the resort of Mojacar, which is now readying itself for the arrival of thousands of British holidaymakers - many from Kent - as the tourist season warms up, schools, stores and banks closed and special church services were held.

A huge black ribbon draped from the roof of the Parque Comercial, the main shopping and business complex, while a public demonstration was held in the neighbouring town of Turre.

Although well away from Madrid, the southern coast is in the front line of holiday activity and ETA - which was originally blamed - has warned that it now regards tourists as targets.

This follows bomb blasts a year ago in Alicante and Benidorm. Media contacts in Barcelona told me this week that Andalucia could be a possible target.

The sombre mood was summed up by 20-year-old Dean Wilkinson, who moved from Deal to Mojacar last year to join his father in running Roly, a bar and restaurant on the beach front.

"It was a totally pointless act," he said. "Lots of customers have been talking about it. But they seem determined to enjoy their holiday and I still think we are in one of the safest areas here."

Former Aston Villa footballer Keith Bradley, who runs the nearby Badgers Bar Restaurant, a popular haunt for sports fans, said: "Being here, as a resident, you are touched by such atrocities. It is pure emotion. Even my son-in-law, who is in hospital in Granada, said he felt it.

"British residents have total sympathy for the Spanish people. The three days of mourning is their way of dealing with the situation."

Margaret Hurson, who was born in Folkestone and has relatives and friends in Lympne and Ashford, said it reminded her of the IRA bombing campaign in the UK.

She moved here five years ago but used to live near the Shorncliffe military camp in east Kent and regularly had to move her children out of harm's way during alerts.

She said: "This has shaken the Spanish people. I feel very much for them because this is now my home."

Another British resident, Derek Luckie, who with his wife Jean part owns a house in Canterbury and often stays with friends in Ightham, said it was "like the IRA campaign -we have been there before."

He added: "We have sent a text to our friends, but we feel safe because nothing would be achieved by an attack in this area. It would not have the impact."

There was a fear that holiday flights might be affected through extra security, but tour operator reported no ticket cancellations or delays at Almeria airport which is about 40 minutes from the resort.