Some 47 holidaymakers were ordered to leave a TUI plane hit by a stomach bug.

Passengers were preparing to make their way home from Boa Vista, Cape Verde to Manchester Airport when flight crew intervened.

Many of the passengers on the flight on Sunday, October 6 had been affected during a gastric illness during their break on the island.

And cabin crew asked everyone affected to turn on their overhead light - reports the Manchester Evening News.

Passenger Michaela Mclachlan said: "All the lights just went 'ding, ding, ding'"

The captain then asked all of the passengers who had indicated they'd been ill to leave the aircraft for a medical check.

Michaela, 53, and her husband James, 54, were two of the 47 people asked to leave the plane.

Michaela said: "We were told that they initially had concerns about a little girl who was poorly.

"But the crew had got wind of the fact that quite a few of the passengers had had this bug.

"We'd been ill earlier in the week but it hadn't ruined our holiday. We'd just cancelled a few of the day trips and stayed on our terrace.

"When the cabin crew asked us about it, I turned on our light because I thought we should be honest.

"With hindsight, I wish I'd never turned it on because of the stress and upheaval it caused. They told us we all had to get off the flight for a check with the doctor.

"They gave us in-transit cards, but then immediately said 'you can't get back on'.

"The captain said we couldn't get back on in case we had to take a medical diversion. We'd left everything on there. I didn't have my passport or anything.

"My husband is diabetic and started to go hypo because he didn't have any of his snacks.

"Hours later with nothing to eat or drink but a box of juice and some biscuits, we were told we wouldn't be flying at all.

"It was a nightmare. It wasn't like everyone was being sick or queuing for the bathroom."

Passengers say that hours later, everyone was given a doctor’s note confirming their fitness to fly.

But the couple were transferred to a different hotel for two nights.

Michaela and James managed to get a flight to London Gatwick on Tuesday, October 8 and eventually made it home on Wednesday morning.

Others waited even longer and were flown to Manchester via the nearby island of Sal and Brussels.

A TUI spokesperson said: "We can confirm as a precautionary measure any passengers reporting symptoms consistent with gastroenteritis were removed from flight TOM227 before departure from Cape Verde earlier this month.

"The passengers were taken to a medical facility and given temporary accommodation until they obtained a fit to fly certificate.

"Alternative flights to the UK were then arranged, along with any transport where necessary.

"The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always our highest priority.

"We are in contact with all affected customers to apologise for any inconvenience to their holiday."