A HOLIDAYMAKER from Oxford had a narrow escape after fellow travellers in Italy drank wine thought to contain caustic soda.

Six Britons needed treatment after being poisoned at a restaurant in Ravello, near Amalfi, according to the British Consular Office in Naples.

Two of the group needed intensive care, after suffering burns to their tongues and lips. The tourists were enjoying the start of a two-week package holiday organised by the Magic of Italy travel group, when the incident occurred.

Four of the six, aged in their 40s and 50s, from Sheffield and Buckinghamshire, includ- ing two couples, were discharged on Monday.

One person in intensive care is making a good recovery and has been moved to an ordinary ward, while the other is still receiving treatment.

Peter Rogers, a retired teacher from Oxford, who was at the restaurant, with the 14-strong party, said: "I had heard that the local wine was powerful, so I was going steady. It was only 11.30am.

"I looked up and realised something had gone wrong because all hell had broken loose. There was an eruption in the room."

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed that none of those affected by the contaminated wine were from Oxford. Officials believe that restaurant staff mistakenly put a bottle of cleaning fluid on a diner's table.

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