WORRIED Florida-bound Bolton holidaymakers are monitoring the latest hurricane news from across the Atlantic.

Tour operators have been dealing with scores of calls from local people due to jet out to the sunshine state.

Millions of people have fled their homes as Hurricane Floyd, a huge weather force, threatens to sweep through the holiday state.

And today Pat Dickson, of St Andrew's Travel in Bolton, revealed that about four of their customers had been affected.

She added: "It seems to be a changing picture. Obviously the southern part of Florida seems to have missed the brunt of it.

"We're just watching it minute by minute. Some people are looking at delaying their journey or at an alternative route.

"We know of only about four people from Bolton who have been affected so far although there are others who are due to fly out there in the coming days who may be affected."

And this morning a spokesman at Manchester Airport confirmed that all flights to and from Florida had been grounded. It means that hundreds of holidaymakers due to fly out on an Airtours plane at 9am and a Virgin flight at 10.30am were left disappointed.

The spokesman added: "We're advising people to contact their own tour operators about alternative arrangements.

"Currently there are no out-bound and in-bound flights from Florida although the situation is being constantly monitored."

Much of the Bahamas was cut off today after Floyd brought winds of up to 140mph overnight which toppled trees, cut phone lines and left boats washed up on the streets.

One of the worst storms of the century is heading for the east coast of the United States, where millions of people have fled to safety.

President Clinton has issued pre-emptive disaster declarations for Florida and Georgia and the Foreign Office warned Britons that no attempt should be made to travel to the area.

In the Bahamas, where the clear-up operation and damage assessment has begun, trees were left blocking the main road linking the island's east and centre, and barges were washed ashore near the main street.

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