A NORTH Yorkshire man has spoken of his lockdown experiences on the other side of the world.

Mick West, 82, and from High Bentham, was visiting Thailand when governments in the region began to impose national lockdowns as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Mr West has been stuck in the country since February and may remain there for as long as almost a year, depending on flight availability after rescheduling.

He said he was in the country as part of a six-week-long trip when the quarantine restrictions began to be announced.

Mr West spoke of the effects lockdown restrictions have had where he is currently in Pattaya, a city of just over 100,000 inhabitants on Thailand's eastern Gulf coast.

"It's been painful, really. This is such a vibrant place and it's been a ghost town these past few weeks.

"They only opened the beach yesterday, but all bars are still closed.

"Restaurants are just beginning to open, but with very strict regulations. You still have to sit with a mask if you want to eat anything.

"But, compared with England, we've been lucky, I think. I've probably been safer here than I would have been back there.

"My daughter's still there - she's a community nurse in Preston - and she's been right in the front of it.

"I'm not too worried, though. She's like me - very strong-willed and resilient."

The 82-year-old said he was more relaxed than some of the young travellers he had come across.

"I'm lucky I know the Thai ways," Mr West said. "It's bloody hard work living here, if you don't know what you're doing.

"There are a lot of young backpackers from all over the world here - Russian, American, Australian.

"Today it's 33 but it can go all the way up to 38 or 39 degrees with a lot of humidity besides. On top of that, the rainy season's about to start here."