THE scale of the devastation in New Orleans has forced a Bournemouth-based travel firm to cancel its charter holiday to the city next March.

We reported how Bath Travel was determined to press ahead with the unique trip for 300 people, flying direct from Bournemouth.

But as the terrible extent of the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina has become clear, bosses have been left with no option but to rethink the plans.

And they say they still want to support the stricken people of Louisiana - hopefully in 2007.

Joint Managing Director of Bath Travel, Stephen Bath, said: "We've been assured by the Hotel Monteleone, which is in the French Quarter, that they will not be able to re-open until June 2006 at the earliest because of the flood damage.

"So we are cancelling the trip and giving all the 110 passengers booked a full refund and the chance to take other holidays with us from Bournemouth."

Mr Bath, a past president of ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, said the events in the United States had been an unprecedented catastrophe, possibly America's worst ever natural disaster.

Eighty per cent of New Orleans is under water and thousands are feared dead. The city is in effect being abandoned while the floodwaters recede. Health experts are worried about the spread of disease. There is also widespread destruction across the rest of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

"Our hearts really go out to all those caught up in these terrible events," said Mr Bath. "We were desperate to support New Orleans just as we carried on with our trip to New York from Bournemouth just after 9/11, but it's become evident that it won't be possible to do that in March."

First published: September 2, 2005