A HEREFORD couple have spoken of the terrifying moment their cruise ship was attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean.

President of the City of Hereford Rotary Club Ron Giles and his wife Judy, from Stretton Grandison, were forced to hide in their cabins as gun-wielding pirates attempted to board the MSC Melody.

The pair were told to take cover on Saturday following the attack 200 miles north of the Seychelles.

They listened as bullets pierced the hull of the Virgin liner, carrying 1,400 passengers from Durban to Italy.

Staff stopped the pirates from boarding by using evasive manoeuvres and water cannons. It is not clear whether any passengers suffered injuries, but Judy told her son, Paul, that the experience was frightening.

“My mother phoned me when the pirates were firing machine guns at the boat.

“All the passengers were told to go into their cabins, lock the door, close the windows and hide under the bed or table.

“She could hear all the metal going through the side of the ship, and it went on for about half an hour,” he said.

The couple were eight days into their cruise, and were sailing from South Africa to Europe via the Seychelles and Suez Canal.

According to Paul, the pirates were using an old patrol boat and attempted to follow the liner following the failed attack.

“As far as I know, the passengers are well but the ship has a few holes in it,” he said.

“It sounded pretty serious because my mother sounded quite shaken – she’s quite a strong woman and it takes a lot to do that.”