A couple has returned home and gone straight into self-isolation after being stranded in Bali.

Benjamin Stokes and his partner Yasmin Chadwick, from Rochester, arrived on the Indonesian island last month after travelling around South East Asia.

The pair decided to cut short their journey after news of the government enforced lockdown filtered through back home and booked a flight the same day.

However, cancellations soon became the norm as they and hundreds of other Brits were left stranded in the resort village of Canggu with no clear route home.

After struggling to get assistance from the British embassy the pair eventually managed to board a flight, arriving back in the UK on Sunday.

Ben said: "Eventually we found a flight going through Amsterdam and then onto London.

"It was slighter cheaper but still quite expensive at £700."

The sound engineer and his girlfriend had originally planned to stay put after prices for flights home skyrocketed.

He said: "We've been locked down for two days in our hotel room with no real clear and guaranteed route home.

"Some of them are charging up to £1,600 each for a one way flight, bearing in mind average prices home should be £350 - £400."

Despite the threat of losing money from cancelled bookings they eventually secured a seat home each, adding: "we thought we might as well take that chance."

On Monday, the government pledged £75m to charter special flights to bring UK nationals home in the absence of commercial flights.

It urged those in countries with options still available not to wait and run the risk of getting stranded.

Speaking at the government's daily coronavirus briefing, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "The airlines are standing by to help you please book your tickets as soon as possible.

"The government will pay the necessary financial support for special charter flights to bring travellers back home.

"British travellers who want a seat on those flights can book and pay directly through a designated management company.

The Foreign Secretary said the government would be targetting those areas with large numbers of UK tourists struggling to get home.

He added that in arranging those flights they would prioritise the elderly and those with "pressing medical needs".

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