TRAVELLERS to and from Greece and the Greek islands from Lancashire are being hit by air traffic control strikes – with more pencilled in this weekend.

Half-a-dozen Easyjet flights and a number of British Airways services have been axed or rescheduled after a four-hour walkout by air traffic control in Greece yesterday.

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Another round of delays are expected this Friday and Saturday when the controllers are set to walk out again in a dispute over pay.

Lancashire Telegraph reporter Tyrone Marshall, who was on holiday in Santorini with partner Collette Steadman, was due to fly back to Manchester yesterday but was caught up.

The 34-year-old said: “This morning we packed our bags and went to check out at 10am, only to be told that the transfer had been cancelled, because the flight had been cancelled.”

He was told that the only flights to his holiday island were on Mondays and Wednesdays – though there was the alternative of diverting to a London airport.

The airline has pledged to cover their ‘reasonable’ costs – but the couple have been forced to book into two separate hotels and find an extra five days spending money at short notice.

Several hotels were booked up as the clamour for rooms became intense on the tiny island, which only has a population of around 15,500.

An Easyjet spokesman said: “We are doing everything possible to minimise the impact to our customers, but unfortunately we will have to cancel some flights.

Other airlines including Monarch have warned of potential delays to the likes of Rhodes and Kos this week.