RESIDENTS who were stranded in Saudi Arabia have now made it home.

Tony Evans, 61, has been stuck some 4,000 miles away from his Wivenhoe home in the Gulf state.

He had been visiting the region on and off for several months, while working on a consultancy project with the Government and returned there at the start of March.

Restrictions bought in by coronavirus meant all international flights had been stopped, and he and his colleagues were stuck at a Riyadh hotel hoping to be shipped home.

They were scheduled to fly home this week, but British Airways abruptly cancelled the flight.

There was then talk of another flight next week, but an email from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office dropped in saying national airline Saudia would be taking Brits back to Heathrow on Sunday.

A 24-hour hotline was set up and Mr Evans and his colleagues were eventually able to book seats.

At the airport, he met up with fellow Colcestrian Anton Angione who had also been stuck.

Mr Evans is now back at home and isolating from his wife as a precaution.

"Each of us had a phone, passports and credit cards ready all trying to get through," he said.

"After 45 minutes we got through and were all able to get seats.

"I then called my wife and spoke to my children."

The flight departed on Sunday and both Mr Evans and Mr Angione are now back at home.

"I have never seen the roads so clear - the M25 and the A12 were virtually empty all the way," Mr Evans said.

"I'm isolating from my wife but am incredibly relieved to be back at home.

"We were treated very well, but everyday we were there it was costing money.

"Of course, there are people who are still in worse positions than what we were but being home is always best.

"It was a rollercoaster having the flights cancelled, then being told there was one a few days later to being put on one sooner."