Storms and strikes may disrupt holiday travel

Tourists going to Europe may face a chaotic weekend due to strikes and storms on the continent, travel agents are warning.

Flights to and from Portugal's main airports are expected to be disrupted due to a strike by state airline ground crews.

Rain, hail and winds are lashing the coast of northern Italy and are due to hit the French Riviera tomorrow.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is playing down the likelihood of airport hold-ups at Faro, Oporto and Funchal, which is in the Madeira Islands.

Spokeswoman Francis Tuke said: "Many operators will be making alternative arrangements and there may be a few delays.

"It is unlikely there will be anything on a major scale. There might be a slight knock-on effect on Saturday."

But an industry source claims that instead of the normal 18 aircraft movements an hour at Faro there will be just five an hour, with 90% of charter airlines affected.

There are also likely to be restrictions on passengers entering the airport ahead of flights, leading to further delays.

Faro is the airport most Britons fly into for holidays on the Algarve.

Tour operator JMC said it is expecting disruption to its flights but adds that it has put "contingency plans" in place.