A GROUP of friends have arrived back in Bolton after a week long "mystery trip" abroad.

Six pals aged between 45 and 72, who regularly meet up in the Hen and Chicken Pub, Deansgate, decided to add a bit of spice to their summer holidays - by going to an unknown destination.

Peter Morris, aged 62, a retired landlord, was given the task of booking the holiday, but none of the other group members were allowed to know that they were going to Ixia, in Rhodes, until they saw their luggage tags at the airport.

Peter, who lives in Bromley Cross, said: "It was superb. They were all trying to guess where we were going but nobody got it right."

"The only people who knew where we were going was myself and Janet Whittingham of St Andrew's Travel. I did not even tell my missus."

On the day of departure the group still did not know where they were going and were only told what time the mini bus was picking them up. They finally found out when they saw their luggage tags at the airport.

The group spent a week soaking up the sun in Ixia, staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. They even had t-shirts specially printed with the words Mystery Tour which became a talking point with people they met.