The South East Asian earthquake disaster will have no doubt sobered the minds of all of us enjoying a family Christmas at home in Britain this year.

While many holiday makers escaped our cold festivities in their thousands by jetting off to hotspots such as Thailand, and the Maldives, many of their families at home will be fearing the worse.

At time of going to press, over 11,000 had perished after an earthquake erupted in the Indian Ocean, creating huge tidal waves -- some an enormous six metres high-- which have gone on to wipe out tourist hotspots in South East Asia.

More than 20,000 Brits are believed to be holidaying there, enjoying the dream of basking on the sun-kissed beaches in the tropical sunshine and diving in their beautiful coral seas.

For them and their families awaiting news of their safety back here in Britain, their dreams of paradise have become an inescapable nightmare.

There is no worse a time than Christmas for a tragedy like this to strike, and we hope as many as possible arrive home soon and safely.

Our thoughts go out to their families who for them, sadly, this will be one Christmas they will never forget.