A WEYMOUTH couple are determined to make it home to celebrate Christmas with their children – despite being stranded in New York.

Jason and Joanne Seale said they felt they had been living out the plot of the film Home Alone, which features a youngster’s exploits after his family go on holiday without him, after their return flight was cancelled and they were left with a frantic search for plane tickets to get home to be with Harriet, 13 and George, nine.

The pair said their dream holiday, to celebrate both of their 40th birthdays, has turned into a nightmare as they are desperate to escape their hotel in Times Square and get back to their children.

Joanne said: “It’s heartbreaking. I have done nothing but cry for the last two days.

“It’s not right as we are very family oriented and for us Christmas is about being together.”

The pair, from Melcombe Avenue, like to take Harriet and George to watch the Christmas Day swim in Weymouth harbour and to Hope Church for the Christmas day service.

They have spent £1,700 on a return flight that they hope will make it to Heathrow at 11am on Christmas Day, because the replacement flight being offered gets back on Boxing Day.

And they have had to pay for three more nights’ stay too.

Joanne added: “Something that started really wonderfully has turned into a bit of a nightmare.

“It feels like we are the mum and dad in Home Alone trying to get home to our kids.”

They enjoyed visiting the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and Central Park on their first trip to the Big Apple before their flight was cancelled due to the snow at Heathrow.

They were due back on Wednesday and when the Virgin Flight was cancelled his family and Thomas Cook in Weymouth helped find the new flight.

Jason, co-owner of Sharky’s in Weymouth, said: “The flight on offer was no good to us as we’ve got our kids at home being looked after by family.

“We desperately needed to get back to see them for Christmas.

“It’s terrible not being with the kids.

“But we’ve had a lot of help from family and Thomas Cook in Weymouth.”

Mr Seale said a special thank you to his brother and sister in law Keith and Katherine Rupp for looking after their children.

Mrs Rupp said Harriet had found it upsetting waiting for her mum and dad.

She said: “Harriet’s been in tears and there’s nothing I can do.

“It’s the kids I feel sorry for.”