A MOTHER has slammed holiday companies for profiteering on the tragedy in America.

Carol Davies said she was disgusted after her daughter Kay and two friends were told they would lose almost half the cost of their holiday if they cancelled a four day break to New York.

Kay Davies, aged 22, a student nurse at Booth Hall Hospital, Blackley and her friends splashed out on the trip in October to celebrate qualifying as nurses.

But after seeing the devastation caused by terrorist attacks they decided they did not want to go.

Mrs Davies of Darley Street, Farnworth, said: "They were told by Bromley-based tour operator Funway Independent that if they cancelled they would lose £240 out of the £600 cost of the holiday. They were offered an alternative trip to America but they were not interested. New York was where they wanted to go to."

Mrs Davies lost her 16-year-old son to leukaemia 10 years ago and is worried about her daughter, who has a severe dust allergy, being put at risk.

She said: "With all the dust and rubble in New York, Kay would be badly affected.

"Kay and her friends can't even wait until a bit closer to the time, to see how things go - as the closer it gets to their holiday the more money they stand to lose. My daughter and her friends have scrimped and saved for this trip and were really looking forward to it. The travel companies have made no concessions at all. It is a total disgrace."

A spokesman for ABTA, the travel industry's regulator, said: "After the attacks USA flight space was closed down and there were no flights for three days. Everyone due to travel received a full refund. Some of the tour operators extended this by another week as a goodwill gesture.

"As it stands now, USA air space is open and the foreign office is very conscious of safety. If they thought it was inadvisable to go to America they would say so - but they believe it to be safe.

"Travel companies are now applying their standard policies. They are not profiteering in any way. They pay for a lot of services up front and when people cancel their holidays, a cancellation fee is required to cover their costs and the money does not go directly to them."

A spokesman for ABTA approved Funway Independent, based in Bromley, said: "We have done everything in accordance with what everyone in the industry is doing."