As many as 40,000 holiday makers have been affected by the liquidation of a travel company, with many Christmas and New Year breaks cancelled.
As many as 40,000 holidaymakers have been hit by the collapse of a travel company, with many Christmas and New Year trips cancelled.
But administrators have said customers of Gloucester-based Travelscope Holidays would all have the full cost of their cancelled holidays refunded.
About 10,000 people were due to travel over the festive period, and 30,000 next year, with Gloucester-based Travelscope Holidays.
Some 854 passengers due to travel on Saturday have been told they cannot head off on their planned holidays.
All customers will have the full cost of their cancelled holidays refunded, administrators said.
More than 200 people are expected to lose their jobs.
More than 200 people are expected to lose their jobs.
But the firm's managing director Richard Ford said he had held off putting the business into administration until he had paid all the staff their December wages.
But the firm's managing director Richard Ford said he had held off putting the business into administration until he had paid all the staff their December wages.
'Staff magnificent'
'Too lonely at home'
A statement on Travelscope's website said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would pay all losses to air passengers.
Some 854 passengers due to travel on Saturday have been told they cannot do so.
Land and sea passengers would receive refunds from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).
The Civil Aviation Authority will pay all losses to air passengers, while land and sea passengers will receive refunds from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).
I've had no information at all and I am gutted June Dolphin, Travelscope customer
The administrators are Menzies Corporate Restructuring.
The administrators are Menzies Corporate Restructuring.
"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," said joint administrator Paul Clark.
Joint administrator Paul Clark said on Friday that most of the people due to travel on Saturday had been told, while the 1,859 due to travel on Sunday would be contacted on Saturday.
He said about 80% of the 854 passengers due to travel on Saturday had been contacted to confirm they would not be permitted to travel.
June Dolphin, from Stroud, had been due to head out to Austria on Friday night.
"The 1,859 due to travel on Sunday will be contacted tomorrow," he said.
She said: "I paid £743 in cash and I've no idea if I'm going to get it back. I've had no information at all and I am gutted.
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OTHER TRAVELSCOPE TRADING NAMES REGISTERED WITH ABTA TSI Business to Business)Travelscope SportsTravelscope SchoolsTravelscope PromotionsTravelscope HolidaysTravelscope for GroupsTravelscope Air HolidaysTravelscopeStudy the WorldRiver Cruise Collection Reader TravelReader HolidaysOcean Cruise CollectionJust FriendsTSI
Mr Clark added that the company's 270 staff had been "magnificent".
"We were going to have a sleigh ride on Christmas Day and a steam train ride on Boxing Day. We don't like Christmas at home, it's too lonely."
"They have been very co-operative in very difficult circumstances, given that many know that they will be made redundant."
Abta said people who had booked Travelscope holidays through a travel agent were being offered alternative trips.
Spokeswoman Frances Tuke said: "Where possible those who have booked through a third party are being put on different trips.
"For example, I know that the Co-Op has rearranged for many of its customers to go on coach holidays today, they have acted very quickly."
More than 460 passengers who are currently on the cruise ship MV Van Gogh, which is due to return to the UK at Falmouth on 4 January, will be free to finish their holiday interrupted.
Staff 'magnificent'
Travelscope employs 270 staff, who are mainly based at the Gloucester offices. Mr Clark said they had been "magnificent".
"They have been very co-operative in very difficult circumstances, given that many know that they will be made redundant," he said.
He said administrators had received several expressions of interest, but given the time of year, discussions had developed slowly.
He said administrators had received several expressions of interest, but given the time of year, discussions had developed slowly.
Travelscope blamed a cancelled cruise for the firm's financial problems.
Travelscope blamed a cancelled cruise for the firm's financial problems.
Mr Ford said the ensuing litigation saw the ship's owner put a charge on Travelscope's building on the Gloucester Business Park.
"I'm very, very sorry," Mr Ford said.
"I'm very, very sorry," he said.
"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."
"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."
'Very disappointed'
'Very disappointed'
Travelscope Holidays Limited was established 15 years ago and provides worldwide escorted tours.
Another of Travelscope's customers, Ann Hughes from Gwynedd, told the BBC: "We were going on holiday to Germany today but the first that we have heard about it was on the news, nobody from Travelscope has been in touch with us.
In its last accounts filed with Companies House, the firm reported a turnover of more than £75m in 2006, with a pre-tax loss of almost £2m. It owed some £20m.
A company spokesman said the most recent annual turnover for the business was £80m.
One of Travelscope's customers, Ann Hughes from Gwynedd, told the BBC: "We were going on holiday to Germany today but the first that we have heard about it was on the news, nobody from Travelscope has been in touch with us.
"We are very disappointed."
"We are very disappointed."
Lynton Mason, from Staffordshire, said he expected the cruise he was booked on in the New Year not to go ahead.
While Lynton Mason, from Staffordshire, said he expected the cruise he was booked on in the New Year not to go ahead.
He said: "My wife and I are booked on the Van Gogh for a round-the-world cruise with Travelscope leaving on 4 January.
He said: "My wife and I are booked on the Van Gogh for a round-the-world cruise with Travelscope leaving on 4 January.
"As of now we haven't heard from anyone although we are in no doubt, with what has happened, we will not be travelling."
"As of now we haven't heard from anyone although we are in no doubt, with what has happened, we will not be travelling."
Travelscope Holidays Limited was established 15 years ago and provides worldwide escorted tours.
In its last accounts filed with Companies House, the firm reported a turnover of more than £75m in 2006, with a pre-tax loss of almost £2m. It owed some £20m.
A company spokesman said the most recent annual turnover for the business was £80m.
Abta said it represented more than 1,500 travel businesses, of which 25 to 30 tended to go out of business each year.
The Abta phone number is 01243 621500
The Abta phone number is 01243 621500
Have you been affected by this story? Has your holiday been cancelled? Send us your comments using the form below.
Have you been affected by this story? Has your holiday been cancelled? Send us your comments using the form below.
