The daughter of a Medway couple who survived the Italian cruise ship disaster has spoken of her relief after they got out alive.

Fun-loving John and Mandy Rodford, pictured left, had gone on the cruise to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

The couple, of Bogarde Drive, Wainscott, were on board as the Costa Concordia went over on Friday.

John 46, and Mandy, 45, have been put up in a hotel, but have just managed to get a flight home to Britain and are expected to be back this evening.

The cruise liner, with more than 4,000 passengers on board, hit a reef and ran aground off the cost of Italy less than two hours after leaving port.

Five people died during the incident and many more were injured. Rescuers are still searching for about 40 people.

On Saturday night the ship's captain and the first officer were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and abandoning ship.

Speaking exclusively to the Medway Messenger, Zoe, 19, said: "Dad had talked mum into going on the cruise, she doesn't like boats. I'm just glad they got out alive and are okay."

Speaking to Italian journalists after their ordeal, John - a bathroom fitter and plasterer - said they were forced to slide the width of the deck in order to reach lifeboats that were still usable.

He added: "We had to climb out of that one and climb back up on to the ship's deck and slide down its width towards the side of the ship that was leaning closest to the water.

"When we got to the railings we managed to jump on to the bottom of an upturned lifeboat and from there on to another lifeboat that was still upright."