Easyjet passengers going to Gatwick were stranded in Zante for two days after their replacement plane was unable to fly into the Greek island because it would disturb the local turtle population.

They originally couldn’t travel on Sunday because of technical issues, which required another plane to be sent, but this then couldn’t reach them because of a night-time curfew because flights pass over the beach where loggerhead turtles nest.

Some people managed to find alternatives flights, while the remaining headed home yesterday.

The turtles are listed as a ‘vulnerable’ species and lay eggs about every 2 years.