A BOLTON holidaymaker has hit out at a travel agent for refusing to allow him to cancel his trip to troubled-plagued Kenya.

Tony Holt and his family are due to travel to the African country on January 13 but he says they do not want to go.

He has called First Choice asking for either his money back or an alternative destination.

But the company has told him that cancelling his holiday would mean him losing 90 per cent of his money.

Mr Holt, aged 43, of Turton Street, Bolton, says he is not prepared to go to Kenya and put the lives of his girlfriend Tina Lawson, also 43, and five-year-old grandson William Walker at risk.

He said: "We've been monitoring the situation. The Foreign Office is advising against travel. There are people walking down the streets with machetes.

"I'm not prepared to take us to a place where we will be watching our backs all the time. First Choice just has to allow us to cancel or transfer this holiday at no cost to us."

The family booked the holiday two weeks ago at a cost of £2,000. They are due to stay in a four-star hotel in Mombassa, which serves as the main port for Kenya but which has been rocked by violence.

First Choice has told them that it will make a decision over flying them to Kenya three days before they are due to go away.

Until that point, the family has to wait, even though they have made up their own mind not to travel.

"We've been to Kenya before," says Mr Holt. "But this time it's just too unsafe. It seems strange that last year we went with First Choice to Jamaica and the company wouldn't let us land because of storms but this time they are preparing to fly us into a riot.

"If First Choice won't let us cancel, we'll have to consider talking to the credit card company for advice."

The Foreign Office is liaising with tour operators and the safety of holidays to Kenya - famous for its beaches and safaris - is being reviewed every other day.

Many operators have cancelled flights up to and including Monday January 7 after the Foreign Office issued advice that people should only take essential journeys to the East African country.

At least 300 people are known to have been killed in rioting after claims of vote rigging in the country's presidential elections.

President Mwai Kibaki, whose election sparked riots at the weekend, and his main opponent Raila Odinga have spent most of their efforts trading accusations that the other is fuelling the problem.

The Federation of Tour Operators is assessing the need to make alternative travel arrangements for 7,000 Britons who are already on holiday in Kenya.

The Foreign Office has recommended that anyone already in the country should "exercise extreme caution".

A spokesman for First Choice said: "The FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) currently advise against non-essential travel to Kenya due to the continuing threat of unrest in certain areas.

"But the FCO see no need for repatriation at this time as local reports state that beach resorts and hotels are unaffected by the unrest.

"In light of the FCO's advice, customers are continuing their holidays in Kenya as planned, and are expected to return home on their planned departure dates.

"But First Choice and Thomson have decided to cancel all outbound bookings due to travel as of January 3 to 6 inclusive Customers due to travel on the above dates have been offered an alternative holiday or free cancellation and refund.

"The situation is being reviewed daily and any customers due to depart after these dates will be advised of any change to their itinerary as per the FCO's advice."