A family are relieved after an insurance wrangle keeping a seriously ill cancer sufferer in Cyprus has finally been settled.

Strood businessman Paul Hawden was decorating his holiday home in Cyprus when he fell ill.

He eventually left the hospital after his daughter acted as a guarantor, but could still not leave the island.

But after his MP and the Messenger stepped in, the dispute with his travel insurance company Barclays was sorted out.

Mr Hawden said today: “They said they had spoken to my two surgeons and reviewed the situation and would pay up for everything.

“They are taking me to the airport in a wheelchair and have arranged for a doctor to be on board.

"They said they would take me straight to Maidstone Hospital if I wanted. I said I don’t care where you take me, just take me home.”

Mr Hawden has an appointment with his specialist tomorrow to get the all-clear to fly. He said: “Hopefully, I’ll be home at the weekend.”

Thanking the Messenger, he said: “I can’t thank you enough, in fact the words thank you is not enough to say how I feel at the moment.”

A spokesman for Barclays said: “We were very sorry to hear of Mr Hawden’s recent stay in hospital. Mr Hawden’s doctor in Cyprus has now confirmed his current condition is unrelated to his previous medical conditions.

“We have therefore been able to confirm that his treatment will covered by his travel insurance. We have spoken with Mr Hawden directly to reassure him that his bills will be paid so when he’s well enough, he is able to come home.”

Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst said: “The stress of being presented with a £29,000 medical bill has put an unnecessary pressure on Mr Hawden and his family at a time when his health is the priority.

“It is most important to get Mr Hawden back to the UK as quickly as possible so he can receive medical care here. I am delighted to hear Barclays have now taken the decision to provide their customer, Mr Hawden with full assistance to get him back to the UK.”

Mr Hawden, who runs a funeral business in Hoo, had flown out in July to decorate his apartment in Limassol in preparation for friends who were due to stay there this month.

He had been feeling unwell since his arrival but alarm bells rang when Mr Hawden, who had been given the all-clear from prostate cancer, noticed blood in his urine.

A neighbour took him to hospital where he was diagnosed with cancer and would have to have part of his stomach and his oesophagus removed.

He was initially told he could not leave the hospital without paying £29,000 for the operation. He was only discharged when daughter Shaolyn, 27, flew to the island to act as a guarantor.

Mr Hawden had travel insurance with Barclays, but said he was told his cover was invalid.

Shaolyn, who works for the family business Paul Hawden Funeral Directors with her mother Linda, has spent weeks trying to sort the dispute out.

Before it was resolved, she said: “My dad is fading away before my eyes. He is getting very weak and losing weight all the time.

“I love Cyprus and have fond family memories of holidays here but now all I want to do is get out.

“My mother is really concerned for us both and just wants us home.”