A holiday in paradise ended in horror for a husband and wife when a drug-crazed gunman burst into their hotel bedroom and shot them both in the head.

Karen and Les Abbie were in the Caribbean with friends on what should have been the holiday of a lifetime.

They were staying in Barbados to celebrate Mrs Abbie's 50th birthday.

But the week-long dream trip ended in terror when they were attacked on the final night of their stay.

An armed raider burst into their room at the Port Escape Hotel, Barbados.

The couple, from Coggeshall Road, Earls Colne, were both shot in the face.

Mr Abbie, a 48-year-old economist, was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

The couple were on holiday with friends Peter and Helen Fill, also from Earls Colne.

Mr Fill said they had enjoyed a late meal together on the night of the attack before the Abbies went back to their room.

"Mrs Abbie was in the bathroom when Mr Abbie heard a knock at the door.

"I guess he thought it was me or my wife so he opened it. When he realised the man was up to no good he tried to push the door shut.

"Between them they managed to push the intruder out and put the latch on."

But the attacker managed to get in through a side window.

Mr Fill continued: "Mr Abbie tried to push him out and at that point he produced a gun and fired, hitting him in the mouth.

"He was demanding money. Then he shot Mrs Abbie and the bullet grazed the side of her head.

"Les had collapsed on the floor. The place was awash with blood - that was the most traumatic part of it. Karen thought her husband was dead."

The raider left the room but returned demanding more money.

He got away with about £300 in jewellery and cash.

Police in Barbados are still hunting the gunman. Mr Abbie was transferred to Ipswich Hospital when the couple flew home to England on Friday.

He underwent an operation to rebuild his shattered jaw on Monday. A hospital spokesman on Tuesday described Mr Abbie's condition as "stable".

Mrs Abbie, an arts student at Colchester Institute, was not seriously injured but was today too distressed to talk about her ordeal. She suffered grazing to the head and needed three stitches.

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