A Sheffield couple holidaying in Spain amidst the Coronavirus lockdown say “its a ghost town”

The couple flew out to Albir, a town in Valencia, Spain, on March 3 for what they hoped to be a relaxing break.
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Maureen Gray, 82, a retired teacher, and her husband Ron Gray from Millhouses are two of many Brits stuck in countries locked down across Europe in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Maureen said: “We were initially anxious to be coming home, our friends were keeping us updated with the news. But with Spain escalating and panic rising every day here, the UK seems like its business as usual.”

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Mr and Mrs Gray heard of the lockdown from their hotel, Hotel Cactus, on Saturday March 14. They were informed that shops and restaurants were to be locked down with immediate effect.

The beachfront in Albir, cordoned off for Spain's Coronavirus lockdownThe beachfront in Albir, cordoned off for Spain's Coronavirus lockdown
The beachfront in Albir, cordoned off for Spain's Coronavirus lockdown

They said their hotel, Hotel Cactus, is “fully shut off and locked with a big gate” and guests wanting to leave “are to go through a side door if they want to go elsewhere.”

Maureen said: “It’s a strange feeling walking down the prom, it's like a ghost town.

“Normally the promenade is bustling, people walking their dogs, children playing, but there’s hardly anyone here. The beach is fully closed off, you can’t do anything really.”

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The couple have holidayed in Albir for the past four years, and said: “It’s such a shame to see it this way, it is such a lovely resort.”

The government advises those abroad to keep up to date with the latest travel advice, which can be found here.