Hurricane Isabel blows in to East Coast

UP TO 75,000 tourists are thought to have been caught up in the mass evacuation of the US East Coast caused by Hurricane Isabel.

Winds in excess of 100mph are beginning to lash parts of North Carolina and Virginia. The Category 2 storm is expected to move northwards towards New York.

The severe weather warning caused headaches for US and UK carriers, including British Airways, Virgin, BMI and United, with a number of services to Washington and Baltimore cancelled on Thursday. Passengers were being rebooked on to flights later in the week or rerouted via New York and Chicago.

A number of cruises were also affected, with Carnival forced to divert Carnival Legend, Carnival Triumph and Paradise from their Eastern Caribbean course.

Norwegian Cruise Line was planning to divert its planned Norwegian Dawn Bahamas itinerary if conditions worsened, while Princess Cruises and Holland America Line were monitoring the situation.

UK tourists needing help or advice can call the British Embassy in Washington on a hurricane hotline. The number is 1-202-588-7806