A WARRINGTON family were involved in a bomb scare as they prepared to fly home from holiday.

Stephen McMillan, aged 28, and Nicola Williams, aged 23, of Dudley Street, Orford, and their two young sons were among many other holidaymakers sat aboard a First Choice plane last week waiting for take off when there was an announcement that the plane was to be evacuated.

Mr McMillan said: "We were on the plane and were about to take off when a passenger found a message in the pocket of the seat in front. The airline told us that, in light of the current security issues, the plane had to be evacuated and thoroughly searched before letting us take off."

The flight was about to leave Larnaca airport in Cyprus, where the couple had just enjoyed a two-week holiday, when the alarm was raised.

A spokesman from First Choice told the Warrington Guardian: "A passenger found writing on the in-flight magazine saying that there was a bomb on board the aircraft.

"The plane was evacuated and a full security search was implemented.

"After the search, no bomb was found and the situation was downgraded to a bomb hoax.

"The flight was delayed by two hours but obviously safety is our absolute priority."

The plane had to be moved from the runway away from other planes during the search. Emergency vehicles from the airport were also alerted by the incident.

Miss Williams said: "We didn't mind being delayed as long as the plane was thoroughly checked.

"I was worried because you don't know if it's a hoax or not at the time."

Mr McMillan was relieved that the message was found before take off and not during the flight: "I was glad it wasn't in mid-air when it was found or it would have been pandemonium."