A NEWPORT couple have told of their terror as their dream holiday turned into a nightmare when they were caught amid the savage Hurricane Ivan.

The deadly tropical storm, rated close to Category 5, the top of the scale for measuring hurricanes, has unleashed devastating gusts of up to 155mph on the Caribbean, killing more than 50 people.

Leanne Edwards, 25, and her partner Denis Spiteri, 27, flew to Jamaica last Wednesday, and arrived just hours before Ivan hit.

The couple had intended to spend a relaxing holiday with friends at the Wyndham Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay.

But speaking from Jamaica yesterday, Leanne told the Argus how instead of soaking up the sun the couple found themselves barricaded in the hotel basement while one of the worst hurricanes the region has ever seen unleashed its wrath.

She said: "It was a very traumatic experience but the hotel staff here have been great and looked after us well."

Luckily the hotel escaped without any structural damage and just a few smashed windows.

Since the storm has passed, Leanne, a medical secretary at the Royal Gwent Hospital, has managed to contact her family via text message and brief telephone calls.

Her anxious mum, Jennifer Edwards from Caldicot, said: "I've been worried sick and glued to the TV for information.

"But you just feel helpless, you know what is happening out there and you hear the stories but you can't do anything about it."

Leanne said: "Although our holiday doesn't officially end for another week, we are just waiting to be able to come home, but we don't know when that will be."