Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has come to the rescue of hundreds of holidaymakers left stranded after holiday company, XL Leisure Group, were forced into administration.

21 aeroplanes were grounded last week after rising fuel costs meant the company could no longer afford to bring customers home from various European destinations.

Dickinson, who is a part time pilot for Astraeus, brought 221 people back to the UK from Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt on Saturday morning.

And also piloted a plane to collect XL customers from the Greek Island of Kos in the evening, according to the Times.

He told the newspaper: My life's great. I get paid to do my two hobbies".

(by Jason Gregory)