A second couple have come forward to claim that their Mediterranean cruise was ruined by illness due to dirty conditions.

Shaun Shields, from Braunstone, contracted the vomiting bug norovirus during a week-long cruise with wife Elizabeth on the Thomson-run Island Escape, in January.

Mr Shields, 52, said he was quarantined in his cabin for two days, and said he heard that 300 people had the illness.

He has now questioned the ship operator's decision to go ahead with the cruise just days after a similar outbreak.

Mr Shields said he was considering legal action after reading the Leicester Mercury's report, on Tuesday, that a law firm had called for an "urgent" investigation into hygiene on board the Island Escape.

Irwin Mitchell is beginning legal action for more than 70 British holiday-makers struck down by illness during or after time spent on board the ship.

Mr Shields said: "If this had happened before, then I think we should have been notified and asked if we still wanted to go, but instead we were just flown out to Tenerife.

"I think they should have stopped the ship. I was told at one point there were over 300 people that had been ill."

During their holiday Mr and Mrs Shields said they received two notes about a "small incidence of gastrointestinal illness with symptoms consistent with norovirus".

The first note advised them to take simple measures, like washing their hands frequently, to stop contamination.

The second informed guests the ship would need to be cleared of all passengers for four-and-a-half hours for a "full sterilisation".

Questions have also been raised by another Leicestershire couple over Thomson's commitment to improving hygiene standards.

Glenis and Michael Baker, of Beaumont Leys, went on a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on the Island Escape last June.

The couple said they were faced with broken or overflowing toilets and cold showers.

Mrs Baker, 67, complained to Thomson. She said: "I did not expect the Ritz, but I expected more than that."

A letter from Thomson in reply to Mrs Baker's complaint read: "We are aware the plumbing on board Island Escape is an area for improvement, I am sure this will be looked at next time the ship enters dry dock for refurbishment."

Mrs Baker said she had been surprised to read in the Mercury that a family who went on a cruise in December said they had similar problems.

A spokeswoman for Thomson said: "Island Cruises would like to clarify that there are no inherent problems with the sanitation system on the Island Escape, which, like most cruise lines, features vacuum toilets."

She said "despite warnings", passengers sometimes put objects down the toilets, which could "occasionally result in blockages", which was "the case for a limited period during Mrs Baker's cruise."

She added: "Problems with the toilet system do not result in the spread of the norovirus.

"Norovirus infection is caused by an airborne virus, which is spread 'person to person', like the common cold.

"Island Cruises closely monitors all the ships in our fleet to ensure that the strictest health, safety, hygiene and comfort levels our customers expect are maintained.

"We refute inferences that an outbreak of norovirus on a cruise ship is due to poor hygiene standards."