A large group of Russian tourists have found themselves stranded at Burgas Airport, unable to get on a flight home over unpaid tickets.

According to preliminary reports, a total of 160 passengers were prevented from boarding a Bulgaria Air flight to Saint Petersburg after it emerged that the tour operator, Alma Tour, had not paid their plane tickets.

The plane had been scheduled to depart at 04:30 a.m.

The tourists further complained that they had not been offered food or accommodation at a hotel.

In the meantime, Alma Tour announced that the flight had been paid for and the problem probably occurred due to a technical error.

Alma Tour, set up in 1991, is a member of the Bulgarian Association of Travel Agents and has offices in Bulgaria, Russia, Romania, Hungary and the Baltic countries.