A FAMILY who suffered severe chemical burns in the swimming pool of a five-star hotel have received compensation for their ordeal.

Susan Austin and partner Lee Sanders were left so sore after bathing in the pool at the Mitsis Roda Beach Hotel, in Corfu, they couldn’t even put their clothes on, as it was too painful.

Her sons Sam, 15, and Ben, 12, developed agonising rashes on their legs, arms, backs and genitals after taking a dip on the first day of their holiday. Ms Austin said: “For two nights my children were crying in agony and could barely walk, they were so badly burnt.

“To this day we have not received satisfactory answers or explanations. Our family holiday was completely ruined.

“We, along with many others, want to know what exactly happened with the pool and what our children have been subjected to.”

The family who live in Quilters Drive, Billericay, were among 42 Britons to take legal action against the tour operators after staying at the hotel in July 2007.

In total 33 of the holidaymakers suffered agonising burns after going in the water.

Yet despite this, the pool remained open and appeared to be topped up with large amounts of chemicals on a daily basis.

Ms Austin said: “When I realised we were not the only family affected, I approached the hotel manager.

“He told me that, despite 100 children having been affected, the pool was safe to use as long as you showered before and after bathing.”

The hotel doctor advised them to stay out of the water for a couple of days and eventually he admitted that her family were suffering from burns caused by the high levels of chemicals.

The 42 holidaymakers won their claim against a number of tour operators. Ms Austin got the family’s undisclosed sum from Thomas Cook.