Lateholidays Report: A high court in Birmingham this week officially settled a compensation claim by hundreds of holidaymakers against Thomson, Thomas Cook and other UK tour operators.

The 790 holidaymakers won a total of more than £2.5 million in compensation after falling seriously ill at the Beach Club hotel in Torremolinos.

Some of the Thomson and Thomas Cook holidaymakers caught the norovirus stomach bug and others developed salmonella and campylobacter while staying at the Beach Club Hotel in Torremolinos between 2000 and 2003.

Part of the large compensation pay-out is being covered by the hotel itself.

This week, a judge at the High Court in Birmingham ended the case after approving the settlement terms in relation to the babies who became ill.

Thomson and Thomas Cook had both initially denied any liability whatsoever, but offered an out-of-court settlement at the end of last year, just days before the case was due to be heard.

A spokeswoman for Thomson said: “This case was settled at a much reduced amount than originally claimed.”

Thomas Cook declined to comment.