TWO Monmouthshire holidaymakers are stranded in Cuba with Hurricane Matthew set to hit the island later today.

Helen Lane, 52, of Denny View, Caldicot, is on holiday with her friend Lorraine Morrison, 46, when they were warned of the earlier this week.

The women are staying at Hotel Brisas Guardalavaca near the city of Holguin, where 1,000 Thomas Cook customers remain stuck.

According to a statement from the travel agent, the Cuban government have allowed 570 customers, who were due to fly today and yesterday, to travel to the airport of Cayo Coco so that they can return to the UK as scheduled.

However, Mrs Lane and Mrs Morrison have been told that they will not be flown out and will be moved to the hotel basement at around 9pm local time - roughly 2am tomorrow morning - with the hurricane set to pass over the eastern part of Cuba in the early hours.

Both women have been keeping in touch with concerned relatives via a Facebook group and told them that the basement will have emergency lighting, food and soft drinks.

Mrs Lane's daughters Zoe Ball, 19, Laura Deane, 25 and Aimee Miles 27, are part of the group along with Mrs Morrison's children Georgia, 19, Josh, 21, Aaron, 23, and Carys 26.

In a message to the group yesterday, Mrs Lane said: "Just feel a bit abandoned by holiday company. We're really positive we will be ok though".

Miss Ball told the Argus that she has been unable to sleep as the situation continues to change, adding that one of the seven "frantic" children has been unable to eat.

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook said: “Following the upgraded Hurricane warning on Sunday October 2 we worked with the Cuban government to move around 570 customers to Cayo Coco who are due to depart on flights scheduled  Monday and Tuesday.

"The Government has not given permission for further customers to be relocated at this time. Hotels in Cuba are very experienced in dealing with issues of this kind and have tried and tested hurricane procedures.”