A DROITWICH woman is "on edge" because her parents are at risk due to the wildfires still raging through Turkey.

Nicola Stanley, 50, said she had the "shock of her life" when her mum texted her in the early hours of Thursday morning (August 29). Margaret and Roger Richards, who emigrated to Turunç 16 years ago, were evacuated from their home last week after the wildfires plaguing Turkey had spread to their village.

Mrs Stanley said: "We had a message off mum on Thursday morning – I always usually get a good morning text, but this time she said 'things are bad' and my heart dropped."

A family holiday planned for September has now been cancelled because of the devastation at the holiday resort.

She said: "I was due to go on September 4. I was already worried to travel out because of covid, but now I don’t think it’s the right time with all that going on. It breaks your heart and I’m not ready to see all the damage. I'm devastated I can't go and see her. It's been three years."

She added: "They're getting older now, I just don't know how they're going to cope. I'm forever grateful for the support network they have out there. I miss them like you wouldn’t believe. I can’t believe their lives are in danger."

Mrs Stanley said that the situation is calmer now in Turunç, however fires are still smouldering at the back of the village.

She said: "I'm on edge - you're not quite sure what's going to happen. They could be asked to leave again. Last week, it was a nightmare. Mum would go quiet and we just kept picturing her out on this boat in the middle of the sea.

"We’ve known the people in the village for 30 years, we used to holiday there as a family and I’ve taken my kids there. I’m gutted for them.

"My main focus now is that they’re safe and sound. They’re being looked after and that’s all I can hope for. Fingers crossed it stays that way and they can rebuild after all this is over".