Mark Ellis, aged 28, and Lindsey Allen, aged 26, from Northampton town centre, flew out for a 10-day holiday to a resort south of the Thai capital.

But their relaxing break has so far been extended by an unwanted three days by anti-Government demonstrators who have taken over Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the main route out of the country.

No flights are leaving and the couple do not know how long it will be before they can return home with their tour company and they have no other means to get back to the UK.

Mr Ellis, who works for Welcome Computers in Brixworth, said: "We have got no idea when it's going to end. We're just fed up.

"People might think 'that's okay, you are just extending your holiday' but it's not like that. We don't want to be here.

"We came here for a holiday but we get to the end of it and it's become a nightmare. Its the stress of it all and feeling completely helpless."

Mr Ellis said neither the UK Government nor the tour operators are able to give tourists much information about flight arrangements.

And the terrorist activity in Mumbai has pushed the Thailand protests off the English-speaking news in their hotel room.

The only sure way out the couple know of is a 24-hour train ride to Singapore followed by an overnight hotel stay and a flight home, all of which would cost them £3,000 with no guarantee they will be compensated.

Other than that, the soonest possible date for return flights which has been mentioned is December 11.

Mr Ellis's mum, Wendy, said she was eager to see the pair safely home, adding: "It seems terrible that they can be almost held hostage like this."