THEY had been enticed by the promise of ‘fun’ and ‘relaxation’ in the travel agent’s brochure and website.

But Amanda and David Addison’s dream holiday in Cuba ended in chaos, misery and illness.

It was supposed to be a memorable holiday in the sun to mark Amanda’s 50th birthday in September 2010.

However for Amanda and her husband David, from Newton-le-Willows, it was a trip they will remember for all the wrong reasons.

Their hotel, the three-star Sol Palmeras in Varadero, resembled a building site, with cement mixers, piles of rubbish, felled trees and a flooded restaurant.

Days later they were struck down with severe gastric illness, leaving them with stomach pains, fatigue, sickness and diarrhoea, brought on they claim by the poor standard of food hygiene.

After winning their battle for justice against tour operator First Choice, which admitted liability, the Addisons have been awarded a £5,000 out-of-court settlement.

David, 53, said it was difficult to appreciate how bad it was.

He said: “It was absolutely terrible. Initially the flight was fine and the transfer to the hotel was OK. But when we got there the room wasn’t ready, so we had to wait for an hour.

“There were only one or two staff on reception to process 34 people.

“At first the food seemed to be OK, but after two to three days it turned into a nightmare.

“There was a manhole that smelled terrible, and all they did was put a sunbed over it.

“They pumped out the pool in front of us, and a man got in and started sweeping it.

“There was a dumper truck outside our room with a wheel missing, but they still used it. As we lay by the pool they were pulling up flowers and plants and the soil was sticking to us.

“I said the only thing this place needs is a hard hat. There were cement mixers and a flood in the restaurant.

“It was all inclusive, so we didn’t have the money for the doctor when we got ill, as they wanted $150.

“We are not moaners, we can live with a cracked tile or dripping tap, but this affected a lot of people.

“My wife suffered for four weeks with stomach cramps in the middle of the night.

“We are well travelled, and have been all over the world.”

Jenny Brooks, a travel law expert at the Addison’s solicitors Irwin Mitchell said: “While clearly delighted that First Choice has now taken responsibility for the illness they suffered and agreed to compensate them for their suffering, the Addisons feel nothing will ever make up for the time they lost together during this very special holiday.”