THE families of Britons killed in a terrorist attack in Tunisia have received an apology after they had to sit through “distressing” inquest evidence with no prior warning.

The hearing, into the deaths of the 30 British holidaymakers in Sousse in June 2015 – including Blackwood mum-of-four Trudy Jones – began with an apology to the relatives in court yesterday.

Samantha Leek QC, counsel to the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, was referring to a witness statement that was read out on Wednesday afternoon.

The statement of Camilla Bekkevold, who is resort team manager of travel company Tui UK, included a first-hand account of the day of the attack, where she said she saw bodies and possessions, such as a sun hat covered in blood.

Ms Leek said: “Some of the families in court yesterday were understandably upset during the course of the reading of Camilla Bekkevold’s statement.

“I apologise that we had not warned that that potentially distressing material was coming.”

The statement said: “I could see a man lying down, apparently being treated by medical people.

“I got closer and saw that he had a severe head injury and they were not treating him, but getting his body ready to take him away. I then saw other bodies. There was a lot of commotion.”

An extract near the end added: “Some of the possessions – and I remember a sun hat in particular – were covered in blood and I remember we were trying to decide whether things like that should be returned or disposed of.”

The inquest continues.