Holiday makers Mick and Christine Jackson found their dream holiday became a nightmare after they fell ill while celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary on a trip to the Eygptian resort of the Sunrise Royal Makadi Hotel in Makadi Bay.

The Yorkshire couple, who were looking forward to a luxurious two-week break, instead were confined to their hotel room only days into the holiday with stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Mr Jackson was first to be hit with the bug and then 24 hours later his wife developed the same symptoms.

Mr Jackson suffered the most, battling stomach cramps for over 8 days and spending a further week recovering when he returned home. Mrs Jackson suffered with similar symptoms which lasted over 48 hours and left the couple incapacitated.

“We barely ate anything,” Mrs Jackson told the Yorkshire Post. “Mick’s condition became so bad he ended up losing half a stone in a week.”

They had to cancel two pre-planned trips, including a visit to the Valley of Kings at Luxor, where they intended to celebrate their anniversary on the banks of the Nile.

We rearranged it to the second week but Mick was still not well enough to go. The Valley of the Kings was one of the main reasons to go to Egypt,” said Mrs Jackson.

The couple also claimed that dozens of other guests were also struck with the bug while staying at the hotel.

They are now taking legal action against the tour operator Thomas Cook.