Tourists who claim their summer holiday was ruined by illness and terrible conditions are taking legal action against a tour operator.

The Vanstone family fell violently ill during their one-week stay at the Palm Court Hotel in Malta in August.

The family, along with ten others who stayed there between July and October last year, claim sub-standard conditions were to blame.

A murky outdoor pool with human hair in it, stained mattresses, rust in the bath, inedible food and an appalling stench were among criticisms of the three-star hotel in the beach resort of Qawra.

The Vanstones, of Park Lane, Eastbourne, said they all suffered sickness and diarrhoea after saving all year for the all-inclusive £1,300 holiday.

Janice Vanstone, 40, also fractured her right wrist when she slipped on a wet bathroom floor, which she blamed on a leaking toilet.

The family said they reported the leak on arrival. Mrs Vanstone, a nurse, slipped five days later and had to go to hospital.

Not wanting to stay, she and nine-year-old daughter Emily flew back to the UK a day earlier than scheduled, leaving husband Clive, 44, and son Harry, seven.

The only flight available to them was to Birmingham and not Gatwick, leaving Mrs Vanstone and Emily to endure a taxi drive back to Eastbourne costing £170.

Mrs Vanstone said: "It was meant to have been a family holiday, which we don't have often, but it turned into a holiday from hell.

"We all had sickness and diarrhoea. In fact, the children have never had it so bad. In the end, I just wanted to get home for some medical care."

A total of 30 holiday-makers have now united to sue tour operator Malta Bargains.

Most claim they suffered severe gastric illness, including salmonella, forcing some to fly home early and others to move to another hotel at their own expense.

Lawyers said some of those making compensation claims were still suffering from symptoms related to their original infections.

Mrs Vanstone said: "I wouldn't want any families to go through what we did. It was awful and left our whole experience ruined."

On their return, the Vanstones wrote to Malta Bargains, holiday watchdog the Association of British Travel Agents and the Malta Tourist Board outlining their complaints.

Suki Chhokar, of the international travel litigation group at law firm Irwin Mitchell, is representing the families.

He said: "Unfortunately, when asked to help with the situation, the tour operators denied there was a problem, either with the illness or with the accommodation.

"Of course, tour operators should ensure outbreaks of illness and serious concerns about rooms are dealt with swiftly, rather than denying the existence of the problem until it reaches unmanageable proportions."

The 350-room Palm Court Hotel is at the heart of Qawra, Malta's most popular beach resort. Facilities include outdoor and indoor pools, balconies with every room and four bars.

Mike Smith, Malta Bargains operations manager, told The Argus: "If these allegations of food illness are true, then more people would have been affected and not just ten families. It would have affected everybody.

"I don't want to prejudice any possible claims but the Palm Court Hotel would refute any allegations totally and without question. These allegations have been grossly exaggerated."

He said the Palm Court was Malta Bargains' flagship hotel.

It had more than 1,000 visitors who returned regularly, including one holiday-maker who had visited 23 times.

Between July and August, more than 3,200 meals were served each day.