A grandmother from Dartford who was trapped aboard a coronavirus-hit cruise ship is believed to be on her way home.

A repatriation flight for the 140 Brits on board the Grand Princess, off the coast of California, was due to take off at 6am.

Jackie Bissell, of Hartley near Dartford, finally left the ship at 11pm last night.

Her daughter Michelle said her mum was taken with the other Britons to have their temperatures taken.

Those who "passed" were allowed to board the plane.

They are due to fly into Birmingham Airport tonight, with the passengers advised to go home and self-isolate.

Michelle last spoke to her mum as she waited to have her temperature taken.

The cruise ship was kept off the coast of California for days after 21 passengers tested positive.

Speaking to KentOnline from the ship at the weekend, Jackie said she was desperate to come home and urged the government to do more to bring the affected Brits back.

There were 3,500 people on board the vessel, and at least 21 people tested positive for the virus, 19 of whom are understood to be crew.

Jackie described how conditions on board were not very pleasant and they were quarantined to their cabin which only had a small window that did not open.

The grandmother-of-three, who was sharing the small room with her friend, said at the weekend: “We just want to come home, it’s not very pleasant in here.

“What they are saying now is we could be in here for days; it could take days for us to get out.

“We have had no fresh air, we are allowed in the corridor to get our food.”

They also had to use a phone or make a note to leave on their door if they wanted anything such as food, drink or cleaning products.

Announcements from the captain were being made through the ship's tannoy system and passengers were being told not to listen to the press, and just take information from the ship's staff.

A Princess Cruises spokesman said guests were receiving meals by room service and given additional TV and movie options, together with free internet access.

They added crew members were actively working around the clock to care for guests.

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