A mother of four has told of her fears after being stranded miles from her family as the international crisis escalates in Egypt.

Abigail Hope de Garis is one of several Kent families affected by the government's decision to abandon flights to the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

For another couple, Paul and Rachel Edmunds, it is the second time they have been stranded - after being caught up in the Icelandic volcano eruption in 2010.

They are all among 20,000 holidaymakers stuck in the Egyptian resort amid security fears.

Abigail, 39, went on holiday with husband Brendan de Garis to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, but she has been left emotionally drained and without answers.

The flight cancellations were announced yesterday in the wake of the suspected downing of a Russian passenger jet over Sinai.

All 224 people on board were killed when the aircraft crashed on Saturday and foreign secretary Philip Hammond has since said there is a “significant possibility” the airliner was brought down by a bomb.

Mrs Hope de Garis, who moved from Snodland to Halling earlier this year, said they travelled to the airport yesterday evening and check in only to watch their plane being towed from the runway.

They were then told all flights had been suspended and were taken to a hotel.

The couple's children are aged 16, 15,11 and seven.

She said: "What was really scary was that we had heard from a fellow passenger one of the flights, either ours or the one to Luton, had a bomb on board.

"The longer it went on the more worrying it became. Our children back home know what is going on and are in tears."

She added a lot of her friends had warned her about the dangers of travelling to the area but she told them it would be fine, adding they are unlikely ever to go back.

A tearful Mr de Garis said: "I'm more upset for my children, I don't care about myself. I want to get home so I can protect them."

He added while he understood the government's decision he was disappointed with the blase attitude of the Egyptian authorities.

Meanewhile, for one Kent couple it is the second time they have been stranded abroad.

Paul and Rachel Edmunds, of Ash near Canterbury, are unable to leave the resort of Sharm el Sheikh after the government cancelled all flights into and out of the area.

But it is not the first time Paul, 54, and Rachel, 40, have been caught up in travel difficulties.

In 2010 they were stranded in Spain due to the Icelandic volcano eruption that grounded all flights across Europe.

In that instance the couple were stranded for eight days.

Now, the pair are unsure when they will be able to leave their resort of the Red Sea holiday village, or the country itself.

The couple arrived on Tuesday - the eighth time they had holidayed in the area, after planning the trip for a year.

They are due to return on November 13.

Paul said: "I saw the coverage of the plane crash at home at the weekend. Initially I was concerned but as there were no warnings about coming here I assumed it was perfectly safe."

Paul and Rachel travelled with Thomson holidays, but have dealt with First Choice reps based in the hotel.

"I'm more upset for my children, I don't care about myself. I want to get home so I can protect them" — Brendan de Garis

They and other travellers have been told they will all get home as soon as possible.

It's hoped the first of thousands of UK tourists stuck in the area will start being flown home from tomorrow.

David Cameron said today it was vital to ensure people's safety after it became clear the Russian jet crash was "more likely than not" caused by a bomb.

David Edmunds said: "It's made everybody feel nervous because of the uncertainty, I have managed to contact family via Facebook."

He said he would consider revisiting the resort again, but only after assurances it was safe to do so.

---

Watch: Today's news on KMTV