A Newington couple’s relaxing stay on Cyprus ended with a fire drama.

Clive Sidders, 66, and his wife Jill, 67, of Church Lane, stayed in Tala, a small mountain-side village near Paphos in the west of the island.

The break was planned to help Clive recover from major surgery after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Clive, who retired last year after nearly 40 years as an HGV driver, said: “It was very pleasant to relax by the pool, soaking up the sun, and basically doing very little!”

The couple also did some exploring and hired a car to visit nearby villages and monastries, as well as the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos.

On their last night, a huge fire broke out on the other side of a nearby mountain.

“We could see smoke and flames and the sky was lit up with the glow of the fire,” said Clive.

“We watched a succession of helicopters passing, dipping enormous buckets into the sea, and dropping the water on to the flames – it was very exciting!

"The strategy must have been successful as the fire was out by the morning.”

Are you taking SNE on holiday? Send your picture to sittingbourne@thekmgroup.co.uk