A COUPLE from Malvern say they are stranded in Spain, unsure of how to get home during the coronavirus crisis.

Denis Chirgwin and his wife Shelley are in the town of Nerja, on the Costa del Sol, with their toy poodle called Bunty. Mr Chirgwin said: “We decided to spend the grey winter months away from home in sunnier climbs. We left home with Bunty our tiny toy Poodle on a Brittany Ferries ship bound for Santander in November last year.

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“We have a daughter, son in law and granddaughter who live in Frigliana just down the road and it’s a wonderful opportunity to get to know our four- year old little granddaughter.

“We rented a pleasant two bedroom house and had a dry warm winter expecting to return home for spring and back to the beautiful countryside of the Three Counties but that was not to be. We, like many others, were caught in limbo after the Coronavirus hit Europe with such devastating effects.

“We have now been restricted to home , shopping at the nearest shop, no choices just the nearest and only one person per household is permitted to shop and only one person per car.

“One person is allowed to walk Bunty on a lead but with a maximum distance of 300 metres from our home, unlike home there is no dual travelling allowed and all shops, restaurants and hotels are closed.

“Our dilemma is should we take the advice of the Foreign Office and return home as soon as possible? Up to two days ago their advice was stay where you are. The routes home are restricted as we’re driving,.”

Mr Chirgwin, 68, said there are three options for returning: Returning on their ferry on April 28, though this may be cancelled, driving through France to catch the Eurotunnel or remaining in Spain and waiting for the crisis to subside. He added: “Although we should move from our house soon the owners have said we can stay but we haven’t discussed the price, which may be an interesting discussion.”