Four British women have broken out of a quarantine hotel on a Greek island after testing positive for COVID-19 to catch their flight home to the UK – but were stopped by cops waiting for them at the airport.

The four tourists were prevented from travelling back to the UK from the Greek island of Zakynthos earlier this morning (12th July).

According to the news site Iefimerida, the Brits came into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 carrier and were taken to a quarantine hotel in the village of Keri to spend 14 days in isolation.

Reports said the four women underwent PCR tests which came back positive.

According to the news site ErmisNews, the Brits’ return flight was due to leave this morning and they escaped from the quarantine hotel while still in isolation to go back home.

However, staff noticed that the tourists were missing from their rooms and immediately notified the National Public Health Organisation and the Zakynthos Police Department.

Local officers were reportedly waiting for the four Brits when they turned up at the airport and took them into a room.

Reports said that the Brits were then returned to the quarantine hotel by ambulance and therefore missed their flight home.

It is unclear if they face punishment for breaking local health rules.