Ex-Mayor Martyn Bevan planned a five-star stay in Egypt as a 65th birthday present for wife Pat.

For their week at Luxor and on the Nile, in a five-star deluxe hotel and cruise boat, Mr Bevan, of Eastfield Drive, paid holiday company Thomson £1,893.

But from the outset, he said, the accommodation was nothing like they expected, with poor quality furnishings, old and smelly linen and towels, hard plastic seating and unsafe floor coverings on the boat.

And on arrival at their hotel, the Sonesta St George, there was building work underway with scaffolding but no protective netting.

Their "luxury" room was dirty, claim the couple, with buckled thin carpets and a cramped balcony view of the local swimming pool – not the vista over the Nile they were expecting.

Matters got worse when a builder dropped wet cement on Mr Bevan's head TWICE, and the couple had to pick their way to the pool each day through debris and blobs of falling cement.

The couple also witnessed a workman falling six floors resulting in serious injury.

Dust on the hotel's marble floor made it slippery and unsafe, added Mr Bevan.

In his letter to holiday company Thomson he stated: "It was quite evident that this hotel is NOT as advertised in your brochure, in its present state regarding building work, the state of the accommodation, and the pool area.

"I have been in many hotels over the world, and this would rate at present no more than a 3T/3 Star."

A first response to Mr Bevan's request for compensation stated Thomson "did not think they were responsible for the day to day running of the boat and hotel."

After further correspondence, and a threat of taking Thomson to the small claims court, Mr Bevan still received a negative response.

He said: "I then paid £30 to take out a claim in the county court and sent it off.

"Thomson had by November 14, either to contest the claim in its entirety or in part.

"On November 15, I received a document from court to say that they would oppose all of the claim.

"Then I heard from Thomson's consumers office. They said that they agreed with my assessment – and enclosed a cheque for hundreds of pounds."

Anyone with a legitimate complaint should not be fobbed off, said Mr Bevan, adding: "You can have your day in court for as little as £30."

The Bevans were satisfied to be awarded the difference in price, between a three-star and five-star holiday in the same resort.

Despite our repeated attempts to obtain a comment from Thomson Holidays, none was forthcoming.