The Manchester Evening News reports that a family is suing a travel firm after a four-star sunshine break in the Black Sea resort of Bourgas turned into a holiday from hell.

The paper says: "Lee Simm, wife Susan and daughters Sammy, Sherry and Jade, expected a relaxing week-long beach holiday at the Royal Park Hotel in Bourgas, Bulgaria. Instead they spent the week in bed, suffering severe symptoms of gastric illness, including vomiting and diarrhoea."

Manchester-based Irwin Mitchell solicitors, the firm representing the holidaymakers, reported that it is the fourth time in five years that guests at the hotel in question have been taken ill.

The newspaper quotes Mr Simm as saying: "The holiday was £1,700 all-inclusive for the five of us." But, according to Mr Simm, as a consequence of their illness, the family had to borrow money to eat out. Mr Simm said that a total of 18 family members had gathered for the holiday as part of a family reunion. In total, 12 members of the family were taken ill.

Suki Chhokar, partner at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors said: "Legal action has been taken against this tour operator in the past, but it would appear that lessons at this hotel have not been learnt."

A First Choice spokesman said: "We are genuinely concerned to hear of any illnesses reported in our properties. A specialist consultant, who made an immediate site visit as soon as we learned of the small outbreak of sickness, concluded that the illness was an airborne virus, akin to norovirus. This is generally brought into the hotel by guests or staff members and is passed from person to person and not a result of any services provided by the hotel."

The paper reported that no one at the Royal Park Hotel was available for comment.