A Bradford woman has had an amazing escape from the path of devastating Hurricane Ivan.

Pamela Charity's ocean-going yacht Nightowl was smashed to pieces by the storms in southern Grenada where 34 people were killed.

But, by a quirk of fate, she had agreed to house-sit for a friend in the north of the Caribbean island and, although the roof was blown off, they were unhurt.

Her mother, Vera Mitchell from Horton Bank Top, has had barely any contact for nearly a week but in a brief call home her daughter told her: "Don't worry mum, I'm alive."

Since then Mrs Mitchell has not had any contact and fears for the islanders who have been coping without power and clean water. There is widespread destruction including prisons, schools and the main hospital.

She said: "Luckily my daughter and son-in-law were in the north, house-sitting for a friend. If they hadn't been there they could have gone with their boat.

"They had just bought a plot of land to build a home and now this. They have lost everything. It is terrible. I know the whole island is going through a terrible time."

Pamela, 50, a former Buttershaw High School pupil packed in her job in insurance to take early retirement and sail the Caribbean with husband Roy.

They had been sailing around the islands for five years before buying the land in Grenada earlier this year to settle there. The hurricane was rated a five storm - the highest on the scale.

It destroyed the residence of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell along with 90 per cent of the island and damage is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars.

Mrs Charity's best friend on the island Carol Thomas, who was also building a house there, said looting was a problem and the Charitys' dream yacht hadn't stood a chance in the winds.

She said it had been thrown onto rocks and was taking in water but the couple had managed to return to it and remove valuables before the looters struck.

Mrs Thomas, who left the island in July, and is back in Portsmouth, said: "Pamela and Roy are among the British nationals out there who are very worried. They are worried about their security as there are looters going around with machetes.

"Their roof was blown off. But they are now staying with friends in a concrete house which is more substantial and have taken their valuables off the boat."

She has been receiving texts from the couple who have so far been unable to contact anyone else. She added: "Grenada to us was the most beautiful island with the best beach and lush rain forest. St George's was a beautiful capital built on a lagoon and a hillside."

She said she believed a state of emergency should be declared so the aid agencies could get involved.

At the weekend the Foreign Office was advising Britons not to travel due to the lack of services. A United Nations disaster team was reported to be heading to the island.