Nearly 100 holidaymakers have been left stranded in Portugal after a technical fault grounded their plane.

They had expected to fly back to Aberdeen from Faro Airport at 10.30am on Thursday aboard the Thomson-chartered flight.

Passengers have criticised a "lack of communication" from the travel company's British headquarters after waiting more than 24 hours for a flight home.

Alison Bain, 45, said: "We have been treated appallingly - especially the children and older people.

"We're sitting here on a bus that's 28C, we've not been offered water and we've had no contact from Thomson's head office."

Steven Murray, who was on holiday in Portugal with his partner, said: "We've been told that there will a flight tonight.

"But there has been no real communication between Thomson's head office and their customers - the airport staff have done their best with the Thomson employees here.

"There was some kind of leak aboard the aircraft and they tried repairing it but we are now waiting on another part coming in."

A spokesman for Thomson Airways apologised to passengers and said they would be on their way "as soon as possible".

He added: "We would like to thank them for their patience and understanding."