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LONDON - Tens of thousands of Britons have had their Christmas and New Year holiday plans ruined after a travel company collapsed although they will all get a full refund, administrators said on Saturday.
Travelscope Holidays, which was based in Gloucestershire but traded under a number of different names, was placed in administration on Friday.
"For those customers who already have a booking for future travel with the company we can advise that unfortunately the company cannot fulfil its obligations to any passengers," a statement on the firm's website said.
The BBC said an earlier statement had warned that as many as 40,000 people would be affected.
"In terms of passengers ... some 10,000 Christmas period passengers will not be able to take their Christmas season holidays, with more than 30,000 who were due to travel next year," it quoted joint administrator Paul Clark as saying.
Those hit by the firm's collapse are being advised to contact the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) or the Civil Aviation Authority.
"People with future bookings will receive claim forms and full refunds will be made," ABTA said in a statement on its website.
The BBC said a cancelled cruise trip had led to the firm's financial problems.
"I'm very, very sorry," managing director Richard Ford was quoted as saying.
"I had tried hard to speak to the administrators before about continuing the company into the New Year but we were advised this wasn't an option."
- REUTERS
