MUM Marie Buchan today told how a holiday in Weymouth turned into a nightmare when she and her seven-year-old daughter were struck down with the killer swine flu virus.

After taking daughter Tia to the doctors with a sore throat she was shocked when a medic told her: “I don’t want to scare you, but you both might have swine flu.”

Marie praised the way agencies leapt into action to treat her family and other potential victims staying at Weymouth Bay Holiday Park. She said authorities acted fast to ensure everyone was safe.

Marie, from Birmingham, travelled to Dorset for a week’s break with children Tia, seven, Leah, six, Latoya, four, Joshua, three, and Alisha 10 months.

She joined a group of more than 30 people – her friends from the West Midlands – staying in caravans at the Preston site.

Marie, 27, who lives in the Selly Oak area, suspects she and Tia picked up the virus in Birmingham just before they left to go on holiday as there are many people in the city who have been affected.

She said: “The holiday was fine to begin with. We all felt fit and healthy and we did normal things like going to the beach and enjoying the entertainment at the holiday park.

“A few days in Tia complained of a sore throat. She had a blocked nose too but it was her throat that was really bad.

“I presumed it was a cold. She was getting sweats and shivers like a regular cold but I thought it was best to take her to the doctor just to be safe. A few people in our party were getting sore throats too and I thought there might be something going about.

“I was getting symptoms too but I was more worried about Tia. I took her to the surgery near the site. We saw Doctor Ahmed and he was really nice and very thorough.

“We explained the symptoms and said we had come down from Birmingham and he said: ‘I don’t want to scare you but you both might have swine flu.

“He took a swab from Tia’s nose and throat and decided I should also be tested.

“It was a shock. The doctor had his suspicions and they were confirmed the next day when he got the results back.

“There’s a lot of people in Birmingham who have it and I think that’s where we must have picked it up but it didn’t kick in for a few days.”

Marie explained she was told to keep her children in the caravan and not to venture outside. She received a phone call the following day to say the results were positive and that medication would be on the way.

Marie added: “They didn’t actually turn up until four o’clock in the morning. A paramedic and a doctor came to the site and gave everyone in the party Tamiflu medication and masks.

“They weighed all the children and we filled out forms giving our details.

“I was prescribed five days’ worth of tablets and the children had to take a liquid equivalent.”

Marie said they returned to Birmingham as planned the following day and she understood the holiday park was cleaned thoroughly.

She said: “We went back on the train. They said it would be fine for us to travel on public transport. We kept away from people and have been at home ever since.

“It’s quite a shock to the system when you first get it but it’s like regular flu really and it’s all about hygiene. Our case was mild but obviously there’s been people who have been struck down with it quite badly.”

Marie added: “The standard of care we received was brilliant and I’d like to thank everyone who helped and supported us.

“It was a shock to get it because you hear stories of people dying but we are all doing fine now.”

A spokesman for Weymouth Bay Holiday Park said: “We have been informed by the local health authority that two guests who previously stayed with us have shown symptoms of a flu-like virus.

“We are delighted that they are now well on the road to recovery.”