Thurrock man among those stranded at Bangkok airport

A GRAYS man is reported to be among thousands trapped inside Bangkok’s Bangkok airport after it was occupied by the People's Alliance for Democracy, which wants to topple Thai premier Somchai Wongsawat.

All flights have been cancelled from the airport after protesters - some masked and armed with metal rods - swarmed into the airport overnight, forcing authorities to cancel almost 300 flights, although there was hope that some flights might be able to leave late tonight Thailand time.

Nick Harrold from Grays was among the hundreds on UK travelers stranded and he told reporters: "We have just passed through thousands of demonstrators on the way here. Nobody is telling us anything.

"There is no BA member of staff to talk to us and the Thais just tell us to hang around."

The Foreign Office said some Britons had passed through immigration controls at Bangkok but had been unable to board planes.

They then had to be looked after by airport officials after being stuck, visa-less, in a "no-man's land" between immigration and aircraft.

Others have been taken to the holiday resort of Pattaya by coach.