Two Sussex children spent their holiday battling a serious stomach bug which struck down dozens of fellow holidaymakers.

At least 22 Britons fell ill after catching the bug at a Spanish hotel.

Jackie Lewis said her seven-year-old daughter, Alice, was the sickest she had ever been and lost so much weight her eyes were left sunken into their sockets and her collarbones protruded.

Her eight-year-old son, James, was also sick.

The family was among tourists at the Hotel Club Aguamar, Calas de Majorca, who caught the water-borne cryptosporidium parasite which causes cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Reports have put the number suffering symptoms as high as 42 and several had to have hospital treatment. The bug can be fatal in cases where individuals have a low immune system.

Yesterday the hotel reopened its swimming pools after British environmental health officials gave it the all-clear.

In an unrelated incident in 1997 and 1998, the same hotel was involved in legal action after about 400 holidaymakers contracted salmonella.

Jackie, a telephonist with Sussex Police, and her husband, Neil, a property manager, also fear they contracted the bug because they have been suffering the same symptoms as their children.

They are waiting for the results of tests.

The family, who spent £1,850 on the trip, is now considering legal action.

JMC Holidays said it acted promptly and appropriately to the outbreak.

The company, which has been told the pools were probably contaminated through a diarrhoea accident from a child, has offered compensation.

Deputy managing director Terry Williamson said: "The welfare of our customers remains our overriding priority."

Watchdogs Consumer Safety International (CSI) and Brenda Wall Holiday Travelwatch said they had been swamped with calls from people who fear they became sick at the hotel.