Ryanair has refused to refund a passenger unable to fly because their daughter has developed a brain tumour.

The budget airline rejected a request made by Julia Papworth, who had booked a holiday for her family to go to Spain this summer.

Papworth said she was left feeling "anxiety" after knowing she had lost nearly £1,500 in cost as a result of being unable to take the flight.

She said she had appealed to "better nature" of Ryanair but had failed to get a refund.

"Last October I booked Stansted to Alicante flights for me, my two daughters and my granddaughter for this June," she wrote to The Times.

"While having a routine follow-up scan after ear surgery, it was discovered that my daughter had a brain tumour.

"She has since had major surgery and faces long sessions of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which will be ongoing at the time of the holiday.

"I completed the online refund form with all relevant documents and also made a follow-up phone call, but Ryanair has refused any refund because, according to its terms and conditions, you must be diagnosed within six weeks of travel and my daughter’s diagnosis was in December.

"There is plenty of time for Ryanair to sell these seats again as it is hardly a last-minute cancellation.

"At a time of huge family stress, the anxiety of also facing the loss of nearly £1,500 is tremendous.

"I have tried to appeal to their better nature with no success."

Papworth had not taken out travel insurance with the company meaning that she was unable to use the holiday protection to cover the cost.

A Ryanair spokesman said: "This case is an example of why we recommend all passengers take out travel insurance to cover unexpected medical illness.

"The seats booked by this passenger will be held for them and we hope they will be able to travel to Alicante in June."