OTHER families in Preston are counting their blessings after hearing their relatives in Thailand are safe.

A group of friends had arranged to meet up for Christmas in Phuket.

Phil Robertson, 30, who embarked on a world tour earlier this month, went to Bangkok on December 23 to meet five pals, including joiner Alan Atherton, 30, from Fulwood, who was flying in from Manchester, and plumber, Paul Quigley, 40.

They had intended to go to Phuket, but in a last-minute change of plan, decided to spend Christmas in Pattaya, a two hour-drive from the airport. Alan said: "We decided to go to Pattaya, so we could play golf and relax a bit after the flight."

Also in Thailand were former Preston mayor, Councillor Neil Cartwight, and his wife Bobby, who were on an 11-day holiday in Bangkok.

After returning to their Fulwood home on Monday, Coun Cartwight said: "At Bangkok airport about ninety percent of people were fit and well, but there were plenty of walking wounded. People were wearing just their swim suits and some had towels wrapped round them. They had lost everything and had been given emergency travel documents.

"There were empty seats on the plane home; it made you wonder whether they were just empty or whether they were the seats of passengers who didn't make it."