A DOCTOR'S receptionist from Mere has told how she and her 81-year-old mother narrowly escaped the tsunami that has claimed more than 150,000 lives.

Amanda Christie (43), of Pettridge Lane, was enjoying a Christmas getaway on the Malaysian island of Langkawi with her mother, Patricia Rogers, husband David (45), and their two teenage daughters.

Mrs Christie, who is also a dance instructor, said: "My mother and I had both been swimming in the sea.

"I had got out and was walking up the beach towards the rest of my family but my mother was still in the water when people started shouting at her to get out. Everybody was looking at this huge wave racing towards the shore, it must have been about 20ft high.

"I turned round to run for my mother but just as I reached her the wave hit us both and we were thrown in opposite directions." Fortunately two local men came to their aid and Mrs Christie and her mother were pulled to safety before the next waves hit the shoreline.

"The water was very rough and it was difficult for us to find our feet," said Mrs Christie.

Mrs Christie and Mrs Rogers were both treated for minor cuts and bruises. "We just feel very, very lucky and relieved that we weren't as badly affected as some," said Mrs Christie.

The family returned home on Monday last week at the end of their two-week holiday.

They have since learnt the full extent of the disaster and seen the harrowing footage from the area of bodies piled up on beaches and by roadsides.

"Our plight is nothing compared to the awful things we are hearing about now," said Mrs Christie.