WHAT was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip turned into the honeymoon from hell for newlyweds Mark and Melanie Utley after their luggage never arrived.

The couple, of Borrowdale Avenue, Blackburn, today demanded a full refund from airline Air2000 after the lost suitcase still failed to turn up on their return to Manchester Airport two weeks later.

Melanie, 24, said the holiday on the Greek island of Kos became a nightmare when she was left with just the clothes she wore, and was forced to borrow from a girl she met at the resort.

A nursery nurse at Highfield School, Blackburn, Melanie and new husband Mark, 21, left England on August 9 and claim they were stuck at Kardamena airport for about four hours as they tried to trace the missing blue bag, which was decorated with yellow ribbons so they could identify it.

They were forced to wait for another coach to take them to their hotel when their original vehicle left without them.

The couple estimated there was about £1,000 worth of goods in the case, including a £150 pair of Rockports shoes, a number of designer dresses, several new bikinis, plus underwear, cosmetics and electrical appliances.

The couple were forced to abandon adventurous activities such as bungee jumping and scuba diving so they could afford to feed themselves after kitting Melanie out with basic essential items.

Melanie said: "What should have been the best holiday of my life was ruined and the company have had two weeks to get it sorted. "I couldn't go swimming for five days and felt like a real scruff because I had to wear the same clothes.

"Luckily we met a nice couple from Coventry who left before we did, and the girl left me two of her tops, a bikini and some shorts.

"We were covered by our insurance company for up to £1,000 and they stated we would be refunded up to £50 for any expenses we occurred if the bag was missing for up to 12 hours, but what happens now we don't know. I want full compensation from the company for all the hassle they've caused."

Mark said: "In the end we were just glad to get home. We made the most of it but we couldn't do most of the things we wanted to like bungee jumping because we couldn't afford it."

A spokesman for Air2000 apologised but added they were doing their best to trace the missing baggage.

He said: "We are looking for the suitcase with the help of our world tracer but as yet we haven't been able to find it.

"We would like to reassure the couple we are doing everything we can to find the lady's bag."

He added that the couple would have to claim compensation through their insurance company but the bag would not be deemed as 'lost' until it had been missing for 21 days.