MICHAEL Nicholson, the former ITN foreign correspondent, had a holiday to forget earlier this month when Somali pirates threatened to board his cruise liner off the coast of east Africa.

Mr Nicholson and his wife, who live in Grayswood, were enjoying a formal black tie dinner under the stars as their cruise ship made the journey from Madagascar to Zanzibar when guests were suddenly ordered to take shelter below deck as a speedboat carrying pirates drew alongside.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.