DISTRAUGHT England rugby league captain Jamie Peacock faces an anxious wait after his family - including his heavily pregnant wife - were stranded in Bangkok due to anti-government protests.

The inspirational forward is sweating on the safe return to England of his seven-months pregnant wife Faye, his four-year-old son Lewis and his mother-in-law after protesters over-ran the Thai capital's international airport.

They were due to fly back on Monday but have become embroiled in the Thai political crisis.

"They have now effectively been held hostage for three days," Peacock told reporters in Britain.

"It's rather frustrating to be honest and I'm worrying as well. She's 31 weeks now, she's just on the limit of being able to fly back.

"I am also very worried the stress of this all could bring on an early labour - we only managed to conceive the second time due to IVF treatment. What if my wife has to give birth in Bangkok?"

Peacock said his family had been able to move out of the airport and find accommodation in Bangkok - but it had hardly eased his concerns.

"My wife needs to return to England to have an injection [for her pregnancy] immediately, having missed the appointment in England," Peacock said. "These protesters are kidding themselves if they feel this protest is peaceful and harmless.

"What do my family have to do with the politics of Thailand?"