Condoms and cockroaches at Cortijo Blanco

An action that could embarrass three of the country's major package holiday companies is now on its way to the High Court.

Sunworld, First Choice Holidays and Flights, and Cosmosair, are being sued by more than 20 holiday makers from all over the UK as a result of dissatisfaction with a three-star Spanish Hotel.

The families, which come from as far afield as Glasgow, north Wales, Bristol, Scunthorpe, Barnsley and Watford are seeking compensation over package holidays they took at the Hotel Cortijo Blanco at San Pedro, Spain.

Among their complaints, they allege that used condoms littered the tennis courts, swimming pools were contaminated with food and rooms smelt of vomit and urine.

The families claim the hotel was over-crowded and noisy, there were huge queues for food, there was not enough to eat, tables were left uncleared and staff were rude.

Cockroaches were spotted in the restaurant and rats in other parts of the hotel. Bedroom taps are said to have run with yellow or brown water, and some walls were damp and covered in mould.

When it came to sleeping accommodation, the holidaying families claim some of the bedrooms were so small that terrace doors could not be opened and it was impossible to walk around or between the beds.

They will argue, when the case gets to court, that company brochures describing the hotel were misleading and that they are entitled to compensation for the disappointment, distress, annoyance, and frustration they suffered as a result of what happened.

The holiday makers are all represented by London-based Kearns and Co.