A HONEYMOON couple from Bolton stranded in Bali is pleading with the Government to help get them, and other British holidaymakers, home as flights are grounded and airports shut amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Husnain Rashid, aged 30, and his wife Meymuna Ali, aged 29, are among a number of British nationals stuck on the holiday island who fear they could be there for weeks, if not months.

They have been visiting the airport everyday and are getting conflicting information from airlines, and they say, the British Consulate.

Husnain, an emergency services call handler, said there are chaotic scenes as Brits try to return home.

He and his wife, a probation officer, were forced to cut short their honeymoon as restrictions came into place in the wake of the pandemic and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is strong advice to all British nationals travelling abroad to return home.

"A manager at customer service announced to our disbelief and the rest of British nationals that he he couldn't do anything and is happy to leave us stranded in Bali," said Mr Rashid, "He advised us to get in contact with the embassy like the Polish citizens did and the Polish were awarded a charter flight by their government and so were the Ukrainian nationals.

"So we followed procedure and contacted British Embassy and consulate to get a generic email in reply. We have visited the consulate but there is no one there to speak to in person as staff at the consulate are working remotely due to the virus.

"There’s no clear get home path for British nationals in Bali."

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Mr Rashid, who lives in Ladybridge, added: "My wife is currently five months pregnant and it is going to be our first child. She is finding these times extremely stressful and just wants to return home. She is worried about her upcoming appointments at the hospital."

He said the problem was grounded flights, and airports on lockdown, which means they could get stuck at another airport.

Now the stranded Brit have set up a Whatsapp Group which already has 200 members and a Facebook Group, Brits stuck in Bali, as part of a campaign to get the Government to notice them.

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Mr Rashid said: "People are worried as medication is running low as well as money and people have booked three different airline flights and all three have cancelled making them lose out on thousands of pounds. I met a woman who is seriously ill and is recovering from cancer and only has enough medication to last her till this weekend.

"We are all sticking together and communicating via the group to make sure everyone is updated hourly."

He added: "I am worried we may be here for three months as per what the Emirates manager told everyone.

"The Polish and Ukrainian governments acted fast for their citizens and got them a chartered flight. Our Government isn’t being clear in its message and can’t get through on the phone lines as they are working remotely."

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi says she and other MPs have been putting pressure on the Government to bring British citizens home.

She said: "I have been contacted by constituents in Bali, Peru and other parts of the world who cannot get back home, because of the airports are on lockdown.

"What we are saying is rescue these people and bring them home.

"Other countries are doing it and we do have the resources to do this. These are exceptional circumstances and we are urging the Government to help these citizens who are stuck."

An FCO spokesperson said:“We recognize British tourists abroad are finding it difficult to return to the UK because of the unprecedented international travel and domestic restrictions that are being introduced around the world – often with very little or no notice.

"The FCO is working around the clock to support British travellers in this situation to allow them to come back to the UK. The Government is seeking to keep key transit routes open as long as possible and is in touch with international partners and the airline industry to make this happen. Consular staff are supporting those with urgent need while providing travel advice and support to those still abroad.”