A FAMILY are launching a legal bid for compensation after their holiday was ruined by stomach upsets.

Luke Jarrett is adamant he and his daughter caught salmonella during a visit to a Turkish holiday complex, which has been plagued by food poisoning claims.

He booked the week’s all-inclusive holiday at the resort in July, with his partner, Cheryl, and children, Charlene and Hannah.

He and two-year-old Hannah both became ill at the end of the trip, suffering sickness, stomach pains and hot and cold sweats.

Hannah was first mistakenly diagnosed with swine flu on their return from holiday, but tests later showed she had salmonella, an illness caused by poor food hygiene.

The family are now seeking compensation from tour operator First Choice.

Mr Jarrett, of Honeywood Way, Frinton, said: “To be honest, it spoiled our trip. It was not a nice way to end a holiday.”

He is sure he and his daughter had caught the stomach bug from food at the hotel, as their holiday package was all-inclusive.

He said: “We did comment that some of the food, especially the chicken, was lukewarm, but even after a mouthful we could have been infected. Hannah and I were really ill. We both suffered badly for days after we returned.”

Andrew Morton, a travel law specialist at solicitors Pannone LLP, said the firm had been “inundated” with calls from holidaymakers returning from the Holiday Village complex, in Sarigerme.

He said: “We had more than 800 cases of complaint against tour operators, mainly First Choice, who sent clients to this complex last year. Unbelievably, we are beginning to see the same problems reoccur as people return from their summer break this year.

“The complex can accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 people in high season, almost all of them on all-inclusive deals. This means any problems with food or water affects hundreds of people.”

A spokesman for First Choice said the complex had passed three health and safety checks this summer and met international standards of food hygiene.

She said: “We have received no reports of confirmed cases of salmonella among our customers staying at the Holiday Village Turkey this summer, or those who have since returned to the UK.

“At First Choice, the health and safety of our customers is our primary focus and we are genuinely concerned to hear of any sickness reported in our properties.

“We closely monitor all the hotels to which we operate to ensure the strictest health, safety, hygiene and comfort levels are maintained.”