A Durham couple have missed out on their first holiday abroad since Covid began after enduring passport hell at Newcastle Airport.
Scientist Dr Bob Banks was due to give a talk in Munich this week after which he planned to travel onto Milan with his wife Gillian for a long overdue break.
However as the couple prepared to board their KLM flight on Friday for the first leg of their journey, Swissport staff working for the Dutch airline at the departure gate said Dr Banks' passport was invalid and wouldn't let him board the plane.
