WIRRAL tourists have had their holidays to Tunisia cancelled.

Thomas Cook has taken the decision to stop flights to the North African country following violent riots there this week.

Manager of the tour operator's Birkenhead branch, Adrian Whitaker: "We had some local people booked to fly out to Tunisia this weekend but their flights have now been cancelled."

The company said it was suspending its Tunisia programme and evacuating 1,800 holidaymakers.

Six flights were bringing the tourists home, with four flights due to come in to Manchester and two to Gatwick.

Tunisia has been rocked by unrest sparked by anger at unemployment and at a leadership many see as controlling and corrupt.

On Friday, thousands of angry demonstrators marched through the country's capital, Tunis, to demand the resignation of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

A Thomas Cook spokesman said: "Although there has been no specific problems for our holidaymakers, their well-being is our primary concern so, as a precaution, we've taken the decision to bring them back to the UK as soon as we can, using our fleet of aircraft."

The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Tunisia.

Thomas Cook said it had cancelled its flights to Tunisia due to leave on Sunday and was "reviewing the situation" for flights planned for next Wednesday.