IT WAS meant to be a carefree holiday dominated by sea and sunshine.

But a two-week trip to Rhodes, Greece, almost ended in tragedy when a five-year-old Hampshire girl received a serious electric shock. Megan Buckle was blown across the room after adjusting a reading light above her bed.

Her parents, Michael and Karen, are calling for the apartment block where the accident happened to be blacklisted by British holiday firms.

"We don't want anyone else to experience what we've been through," said Mr Buckle, 31.

The family, from Dibden Purlieu, had only just arrived in Rhodes when Megan suffered a 110-volt shock in the room she was sharing with her brother James, nine.

Mr Buckle said: "Megan was by her bed and went to adjust an overhead reading light when the main electric wires sprang out.

"There was a bang and a flash - and Megan was thrown across the room."

Mr Buckle said Megan was taken to a local hospital and discharged three hours later after she had been examined by a doctor.

He added: "We didn't want to stay in the apartment because it was clearly unsafe.

"However the alternative offered by the holiday firm, JMC, turned out to be a one-room studio that was infested with cockroaches.

"I said I wasn't staying there, but the rep failed to come up with any other accommodation. We spent the holiday in our original apartment, sleeping in one bedroom to avoid the room where Megan was hurt."

Mr Buckle condemned the "disgraceful" standard of customer care provided by JMC.

JMC Holidays issued a statement that says: "JMC is very concerned that Megan was injured during the family's recent holiday in Rhodes.

"However it's company policy not to discuss specific complaints via the media until the customer has written to our consumer affairs team outlining the problems experienced and allowed JMC the opportunity to investigate the complaints."