A West Cumbrian woman was caught up in the terrifying Indonesia earthquake which left more than 100 dead and injured thousands of others.

Antonia Dawson, 28, of Branthwaite, was with friends on an island off Lombok when the 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck on Sunday evening.

As their hotel beds slid back and forth across the room, crashing against the walls, they fled to a nearby beach.

As crowds gathered on the dark beach, people panicked as there was talk of a tsunami.

The following day Antonia was one of many tourists struggling to get on a rescue boat and off the island.

Her parents, Judith and Alan Dawson, of Branthwaite, have spoken of the terrifying ordeal.

The former Cockermouth school girl messaged them the night of the earthquake, to say she was heading to the beach.

They were unable to speak to her until 3pm the following day by which time she was on a ferry to Bali.

Retired social worker Judith said: "She said 'Mum you won't believe what I have been through, I'm lucky to be alive'.

"That was the first time I was able to breathe a sigh of relief because she was away from the island. We were both so emotional talking to each other."

Antonia was with two friends on Gili Trawanga, an island off Lombok which is popular with backpackers.

"It was a nightmare," said Judith. "She said there's nothing left of where she was, it's absolutely devastated, everything is flattened."

People had been dragging beds on to the beach, the power was out.

"On the beach there were rumours about a tsunami which was terrifying. Antonia spent the rest of the night watching the water levels, making sure they didn't drop. She was so scared," said Judith.

"There were also lots of after shocks, which was terrifying.

"There was absolutely nothing I could do. I was so worried about her and felt so helpless and panicky. I was worried the worst might happen and was watching the news on the internet all the time.

"She had to get a rescue boat to Lombok and it was real struggle to get on. People eventually pulled her on to the boat."

Antonia has since made a six-hour crossing to Bali, where she will stay until she flies home next Wednesday.

Alan, an architectural metalwork designer and maker, said: "Once I knew she was on the beach and the authorities had said there was no tsunami threat I felt better. Although she had a horrendous journey with all the fighting to get on to rescue boats. I never thought it would be so tough."

Antonia teaches in a private primary school in Hampshire, returning home to Branthwaite during the holidays. She headed to Indonesia three weeks ago, for a month, to visit friends and go backpacking.

About 20,000 people have lost their homes in the earthquake.

Thousands of buildings have been damaged, and power and communication lines cut.

Aid agencies said the priority was to provide shelter for residents. Many are said to be too scared to return to their homes.