British tourists in Jamaica may be next to feel the hurricane's force

Holidaymakers have been taken from Jamaica to the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

British Airways has cancelled flights to Jamaica and travel operator MyTravel has extended its Caribbean evacuation to British tourists in Cuba.

The hurricane has swept through the Caribbean, killing at least 20 people.

The hurricane is now heading directly for Jamaica and, given its strength, we have taken the decision to evacuate the island Thomson spokeswoman UK Jamaicans' fears for home Navy ship sets sail for Jamaica

Forecasters have warned that the hurricane, which has already pummelled Grenada, Barbados and other islands with 160 mph winds, is heading straight for Jamaica on Friday.

The storm may hit Florida Keys on Sunday after crossing Cuba.

"This decision has been taken as the safety and welfare of customers is paramount," the spokesman said.

The company had also been contacting travellers on two charter flights due to leave the UK for Cuba on Friday morning to tell them they would not be going.

The flights would leave empty and pick up about 200 tourists currently in Cuba, he added.

We are looking at contingency plans to try and get any holidaymakers off to safety BA Jamaica braced for hurricane

Customers who are in Jamaica or Cuba or due to travel there over the weekend are advised to contact MyTravel.

A Thomson spokeswoman said on Thursday: "The hurricane is now heading directly for Jamaica and, given its strength, we have taken the decision to evacuate the island and move all customers out of its path to the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

"We have secured accommodation for more than 700 customers in hotels on an all-inclusive basis.

"All customers will remain there until after the passage of Ivan and we can assess any damage to the infrastructure of Jamaica."

Air Jamaica cancelled its flights to Jamaica on Friday.

BA cancelled flights on Thursday and Friday into Jamaica's Norman Manley International airport in Kingston.

A spokesman said: "We are looking at contingency plans to try and get any holidaymakers off to safety."

Meanwhile the airline has announced it will be sending a relief Boeing 777 aircraft to Barbados on Friday afternoon to bring 250 passengers affected by the hurricane in Grenada back to the UK.

Grenada's airport is still closed to large planes and smaller aircraft have been used to ferry holidaymakers to neighbouring Barbados.

"We will be accepting British nationals from all airlines and not just BA passengers," a spokesman told BBC News Online.

The flight was due to leave Gatwick airport at 1400 BST on Friday, and is expected to touch down back at Gatwick at 1115 BST on Saturday.

Worst disaster

In London, the Grenada High Commission is holding a series of emergency meetings on Friday to deal with the impact of the hurricane.

High Commissioner Joslyn Whiteman said: "This is the worst disaster in our history.

"We have so far heard nothing from anybody in Grenada since the hurricane hit. We are just reading about it on the internet.

"Naturally we are very concerned and we are doing our best to make contact over there."

Mr Whiteman is appealing to the public to make donations to the Commission's Disaster Relief Fund.

Anyone wishing to make a donation is urged to call 0207 631 4275.