Scarborough travel agent: 'Situation in Rhodes is changing rapidly'
People are being flown back from Greece to the UK
A travel agent in Scarborough is issuing advice for people who have upcoming holidays booked to Greece.
Rhodes is one of the main places with wildfires which began to spread on Saturday.
Diane Breton is a travel agent in Scarborough and she said: "I've been out in Greek islands before, particularly Zante, and we've had forest fires out there and you can see them in the distance, with helicopters coming and dropping water bombs on them and it's been fine, so yes, forest fires are common but not to this extent that they are which is why the airlines and the tour operators are jumping on it as quick as they possibly can do.
"Over this next week is probably priority at the moment to definitely keep in touch with their travel agent who they booked it with. The majority of airlines have cancelled their flights, some up until as far as 30th of July at the moment. The airlines don't take this position lightly to be able to cancel the flights bceause there's a lot involve in that.
"Keep in touch with your travel agent, keep an eye on the foreign office advice and then just work things from there but for anyone travelling probably I would say from the beginning of August onwards, just hang fire a little bit and just see what happens.
"If a holiday is cancelled by the tour operator then they can offer a refund or they're able to amend the holiday. If people are wanting to not travel in August time then at the moment it's still under normal travel package rules and regulations so there would be amendment fees.
"If people's holidays are cut short and they're brought back home earlier, that's possibly something they could claim back from travel insurance. Each travel policy is different though so it really does depend on that. Sometimes fire can be classed as an act of God and that would be your get out clause.
"To reassure friends and family that they've got in resorts, tell them to follow what they're told in the resort and local guidelines. The Greek emergency service number is 112 and then the Greek Government has set up a crisis management unit, and the number for is +30 210 3681730, and they will be able to help for anybody who is really worried over in this country if they've got friends and family in resorts."
Repatriation flights to rescue holidaymakers
Up to 10,000 Britons are estimated to be on fire-ravaged Rhodes, with repatriation flights to rescue holidaymakers landing back in the UK.
People have told of being forced to sleep with hundreds of others in schools, airports and sports centres across the popular Greek island, while one tourist arrived to hear the hotel she booked had burned down.
Others have vented their frustrations at travel firms for their lack of information about how the wildfires, which began to spread on Saturday, will affect their holiday plans.
It came as travel operator Tui confirmed that holidaymakers returned to the UK on "three dedicated flights" overnight, with plans to bring more back "as soon as possible" in place.
Jet2 said a repatriation flight carrying 95 passengers landed at Leeds Bradford Airport on Sunday evening before another four leave the island later on Monday.
Britons have not been discouraged from going to Rhodes, a decision Downing Street has defended.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Our advice is focused on the safety of British nationals and enabling people to make an informed decision about the situation on the ground.
"The current situation is impacting on a limited area in Rhodes and whilst it's right to keep it under review and it's possible that the advice may change we do not want to act out of proportion to the situation on the ground."
He said there are "not currently" plans to get the RAF to help people leave.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak urged holidaymakers to remain in touch with tour operators.
Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said it is "peak holiday season", with between 7,000 and 10,000 Britons estimated to be on the island.
Airline easyJet will operate two flights totalling 421 seats on Monday and a third on Tuesday, in addition to its nine scheduled flights to the Greek island.
Jet2 announced that hundreds will be repatriated via four separate flights to Manchester, Leeds Bradford (twice) and Birmingham later in the evening, in addition to more than 50 scheduled flights.
Meanwhile, a Foreign Office spokesman confirmed a Rapid Deployment Team has arrived on Rhodes to support travel operators in bringing Britons home.
The wildfire had been confined to the island's mountainous centre but, aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread towards the coast on the island's central-eastern side.