DORSET'S biggest travel company says it is determined to press ahead with a holiday charter for more than 300 people to New Orleans despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Bath Travel has organised a direct flight to the Big Easy in March flying from Bournemouth Airport.

After initial reports on Monday suggested the city had escaped the worst of Katrina, the city awoke on Tuesday to an environmental disaster after its flood defences failed.

Water gushed through, putting 80 per cent of the city (which lies below sea level) under water within hours. In some areas it was 20ft deep. More than a million people have been evacuated. It's feared that thousands have died in New Orleans alone and that it will take months to make the city habitable again.

A row of seaside towns and cities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were also devastated. Katrina is likely to have been America's worst natural disaster.

Dawn Jordan, Bath Travel's Director of Cruising, said: "Our hearts go out to the people of New Orleans and the rest of the region. It's been a terrible catastrophe but we are pressing ahead with our plans. We are determined to go.

"We feel quite positive that by the time we go in six months time, the city will be in a good shape. Our flight is the first ever direct service to New Orleans from the UK and I think it takes on an even greater significance in view of what's happened."

There are no other direct flights to the Louisiana city from this country.

She added: "I recently visited the city to meet everyone helping to arrange our trip and they are such lovely people. It's a bit of a clich but New Orleans really is such a friendly and welcoming city. It's one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. Absolutely fantastic."

The historic French Quarter has been the least-affected neighbourhood. This is where Bath Travel guests will stay at the Hotel Monteleone. Dawn said: "We are going to do our bit to show some solidarity with New Orleans and I hope as many people from the local area join us next March to do that."

There have been no cancellations by those already booked on the holiday. It's not the first time the company has shown solidarity with the United States in difficult times. In 2001, just a few weeks after 9/11 the firm flew a Bournemouth-New York charter even though the aircraft was only one third full. Bosses said they were determined to do their bit to fight terrorism.