A TERRIFIED great-grandmother was frogmarched off a cruise ship on a Greek Island and forced to walk for 45 minutes in sweltering heat.

Theresa Stott, aged 78, and her 84-year-old husband Norman, were hauled off the ship because of an unknown issue with her passport and taken to an immigration office to be interrogated.

Shockingly, the couple — who both have mobility issues — were then left to walk the 45 minute journey back to the ship in blistering temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius.

The pair are passionate cruisers and have been on more than 100 trips together, but said their latest trip included the “scariest experience of their lives.”

They had embarked on the three-week European trip with the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines company and were on board the Boudicca ship when it docked in Corfu on route to Montenegro on June 15.

Mrs Stott, who has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, explained: “We were told there was a problem with my passport and then were escorted off the boat by four big men.

“They took us by car to an immigration centre, and we were sat there with some really suspicious looking characters — we didn’t know what was going in. The officers were looking at us a lot and speaking in their own languages — I was a nervous wreck.”

The couple — who are from Harwood and have been married for 57 years — were then left to walk all the way back to the ship with a member of Fred. Olsen staff.

Mrs Stott said: “They just left us at the station and we had to walk in the 40 degree heat — it took us a good 45 minutes because my husband has ulcers on his legs and I use a walking stick.”

She added: “We were absolutely shattered by the time we got back, we were so tired.”

Mrs Stott said she has experienced problems with her passport before but has never got to the bottom of any issue.

She said: “Quite a few times now I have been questioned about it, but no one has ever found a problem.

“We contacted the passport office again after this time and all they could say was that maybe there was a blip with it.”

She has now sent her passport off to the authorities to investigate what the problem could be.

A spokesman for Fred. Olsen said: “Fred. Olsen co-operates fully with the Immigration and Customs authorities in all the countries that it visits, and any decisions regarding guests’ passports and documentation lie entirely with these local authorities.

“Whilst we appreciate that this was clearly a distressing experience for Mr. and Mrs. Stott, Fred. Olsen was not made aware in advance of any likely issues with Mrs. Stott’s passport, and we ensured that a Fred. Olsen member of staff accompanied the couple back to the ship after the Corfu Immigration Office had decided to question Mrs. Stott.

“Fred. Olsen also assisted Mr. and Mrs. Stott with priority disembarkation from the ship at the end of their cruise, in accordance with their request.”

He added: “The safety, security and well-being of all guests and crew remains Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ utmost priority at all times.”

Mrs Stott said that even though the experience in Corfu was one of the “scariest of her lives”, it has not put the couple off cruising. She added: “We are already booked on for our next cruise at Christmas.”