A MUM has spoken of her relief after her daughter returned from a trip to crisis-torn Venezuela.

Jane Rojas flew to the South American country in May to visit the family of her late farther Nardo in the oil town of Anaco.

Her mum Judith Tregartha, from Accrington who lived in Venezuela for 20 years, had expressed fears that her 33-year-old daughter would be unable to return from the country which is facing a political crisis under President Nicolas Maduro.

She contacted Hyndburn MP Graham Jones after some flights from Caracas were cancelled.

Mrs Tregartha said: "She's okay. There was a bit of a moment in the airport in Caracas when they picked her passport up and took it away but they let her through.

"It was a trying journey but she is safe and sound.

"I gave her a huge hug and her brothers were there. Everybody was really happy to see her.

"It is a dire situation over there.

"It is a wonderful place. I spent 20 years there and it is such a shame to see it like that."