Councillor Warwick Robinson and his wife Anne found themselves stranded in Argentina after a cruise around South America.

Mr and Mrs Robinson, of Brize Norton Road, Minster Lovell, set off on the cruise on December 20.

While away, Argentina was plunged into a financial and political crisis. When the couple arrived back in the country at the beginning of this week to catch a flight to Rio de Janeiro to spend a few days in Brazil they found many flights cancelled and airlines refusing to accept credit cards or travellers cheques.

Their plight was captured by a BBC camera team. Mr Robinson, who is a West Oxfordshire district councillor and parish councillor for Minster Lovell, runs Krystal Trading on Witney's Station Lane trading estate.

His daughter, Kirsty Robinson, who works with him, said: "They went away on this cruise just as the troubles in Argentina broke out but were assured there would be no trouble with flights.

"When they sailed back to Argentina they found the situation had got worse and many flights cancelled so they were unable to get their connection to Rio. They were unable to change any money or cash travellers cheques."

The couple arrived back in England yesterday -- in time for Mr Robinson to attend the district council meeting on Wednesday.