A HOLIDAYMAKER claims he received no advice or health checks for swine flu during his trip to Mexico.

Gary Sullivan and his wife Ann returned from Playa del Carmen, near Cancun, on Monday night following a two-week break with two friends from London.

But Mr Sullivan, of Great Leighs, said all he knew of the virus was from what he saw on television at the resort.

It has killed at least 159 people so far in Mexico.

Mr Sullivan, who has run Stageability stage school in Braintree with his wife for 19 years, said: “There wasn’t even a question asked when we were in the resort.

“We obviously knew about it because it was on the news but the holiday reps didn’t say: Do any of you feel ill?

“We weren’t given any notices about it.

“We boarded in Cancun and flew home. When we got to Gatwick airport there weren’t any questions asked.”

Mr Sullivan, 53, said they had otherwise enjoyed the holiday, which was booked through Thomas Cook, and it was the first time they had been to Mexico.

The couple, who have four children, have not suffered any symptoms of swine flu.

A Thomas Cook spokesman said the firm is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which had only advised against all but essential travel to Mexico on Monday night.

The company has now cancelled holidays departing to Cancun until Tuesday.