A TRIP to Greece turned into a holiday from hell when four Bury teenagers were locked up for a crime they say they did not commit.

They spent nearly 72 hours without food, water or toilet facilities, in filthy cells which were infested with cockroaches.

The boys took it in turns to sleep while the others stood watch to prevent attacks by other prisoners.

Their ordeal began after the theft of a girl's handbag in the resort of Malia on the island of Crete.

It resulted in the arrest of Oliver Rimmer and Lewis Riley.

And the following morning, their friends Paul Bradshaw and Jack Burns were arrested, despite being in their apartment when the alleged theft happened.

Back in Bury, their frantic parents worked around-the-clock to get the boys legal assistance. Two dads, one a sergeant with Greater Manchester Police, flew to the Greek island to demand their release and bring the terrified teenagers home.

They are now seeking to clear their sons' names and are demanding an apology from Greek police.

The lads' trauma started just hours before their week-long stay in Malia was due to end on July 17.

Paul and Jack remained at their apartment but Oliver and Lewis went out for a drink on their last night in the resort. It was while they were in the town centre that an English girl reported her handbag and camera had been stolen. Oliver, aged 16, and Lewis (17), who were nearby at the time of the alleged crime, were arrested in connection with the theft.

They were taken to the local police station and questioned about who they were on holiday with. At 9am the following morning, Paul and Jack, both aged 17, were arrested at their apartment. Three other friends were also detained, but they were released without charge and allowed to fly back home that evening.

Jack, of Bolton Road North, Stubbins, is the son of former Bury estate agent Stephen Burns and an A-Level student at Holy Cross College. He said: "We had been planning this holiday since before Christmas. There were seven of us in our group and we met up with 13 others in Malia. We all got jobs to pay for it.

"On the last night we were told that Oliver and Lewis had been arrested. We were told to stay at the apartment. We were worried for them but there was nothing we could do.

"The following morning the police arrived and told us to pack up our things and we were taken to a police station. We were handcuffed together and waited in the reception area for five hours without food or water. The police just ignored us."

He continued: "The girl who had her handbag stolen was also at the police station. She told me and Paul that we weren't involved and she would tell the officers.

"Despite this, me, Oliver, Lewis and Paul were charged with assault and theft. We hadn't even been interviewed. We were all made to sign a sheet of paper which was written in Greek. We could have been signing anything."

The four, who are all ex-pupils of Tottington High School, were led to a cell were they huddled together on a single, filthy bed and took it in turns to sleep.

The following day they appeared before a judge who further remanded them in custody due to a lack of evidence.

A lawyer contacted by their families was denied access to visit them.

On the Thursday, the boys spoke to their solicitor and the charges were eventually reduced to a misdemeanour.

At 1pm, they were told they were free to go, although their pictures were taken for use by Interpol.

A friend of the Burns family who lives in Malia paid the boys' 3,000 euros court and legal fees while their parents spent around £1,000 to bring them home.

Holy Cross student Oliver and Lewis who attends Bolton College, have since gone on family holidays and were unavailable for comment.

Jack said: "It was an absolutely terrifying experience. We were treated like dirt by the police and the legal system there is so disorganised."

His mum Jacqui said all the parents were determined to complain to the British Consulate in Greece about the treatment of their sons and are demanding an apology and compensation.

"I am raging. Greece is supposed to be part of the European Union yet they treat people as guilty and it is up to them to prove their innocence.

"All the lads are good lads who have never been in trouble in this country.

"They worked hard to pay for their holiday and it was spoiled by these thuggish police. This has put Jack off going abroad. He certainly won't go back to Greece."