Two holidaymakers who were evacuated from their Spanish villa to escape raging wildfires have told how they found sanctuary at a hotel – only to find all the guests were naked.

Self-confessed prudes Viv and David Oliver – who manage Herriots Hotel in Broughton Road, Skipton – said they did not know where to look after being left with no choice but to book a room at the naturist hotel.

The red-faced holidaymakers say the overnight stay provided an hilarious and unexpected end to their dramatic flight to safety which came after they were given just five minutes to leave their villa.

The couple, who were on holiday with their 24-year-old daughter Faye and her boyfriend Dan, said Spanish police ordered the evacuation after the devastating fire spread to within yards of their holiday accommodation near the worst-hit town of Mojacar in Andalucia.

Viv said she and her family had to dash to safety with just a change of clothes, not knowing whether they would be able to return. They only learned later that the fires had claimed the lives of six firefighters and devastated 50 homes near their villa.

“We had been out in the town earlier in the day and one of the electronic temperature gauges said it was 52 degrees,” said 56-year-old Viv, who had travelled out to Spain for celebrations to mark the 60th birthday of her expatriate sister, Christina.

“It was so hot it was unbearable, there was no air at all. All our neighbours were saying this is what it must feel like in hell.”

Viv said she could see the fires in the mountains creeping closer to the villa after the family’s hire car was turned back from the centre of town where they were planning to meet her sister for her birthday party.

“We came across a Spanish man outside our villa in floods of tears,” added Viv. “He said he had lost everything in the fire, his home, cattle and land. We felt so sorry for him. By that stage the fire was just yards away and you could feel the heat of the flames.

“Thank God we had a car so we were able to get away quickly. The people who had not hired a car were walking down the road with their suitcases. We were all evacuated to a car park near the sea and eventually we were allowed to leave and try to find a hotel.”

It then became apparent that the only spare hotel rooms for miles around were at the naturist establishment.

“When we went to check into the hotel we were warned that everyone would be walking around starkers,” said 56-year-old David.

“The only thing they wore were bum bags. We didn’t have to strip off and we kept our clothes on. We just couldn’t stop laughing. We’re prudes really and it’s the last place we expected to end up in.”

David said his family was allowed to return to their villa the next day but the surrounding mountains smouldered for the rest of their holiday.

“We went back to the swimming pool and it was covered in ash. And everywhere was in a mess,” said Viv. “We were just relieved that we were safe and sound, it could have been a lot worse.”