MORE evidence has emerged of the impact in Cumbria of the Thomas Cook collapse, with locals among the many whose holiday plan were left in ruins.

One Carlisle woman told the News & Star she spent around £2,000 on a holiday with the firm but she expects she will be able to reclaim that money. She said that she had spoken to staff at Thomas Cook in Carlisle last week and they believed there would be no problem and the holiday would go ahead.

Also disappointed was Zieleniec Norbert, 44, who had booked a three-week holiday in Cuba. “We were due to leave on Friday,” he said. “It’s obviously not now going to happen. Hopefully, we’ll get the money back.” 

John Johnston, from Kilmarnock, said he and his wife had put down a deposit on a holiday to Tenerife. “We’d gone through Thomas Cook for the first time, booking it online. It seemed fairly straightforward.”

He has lost a family holiday to Cuba, costing around £4,000.

Peter Fankhauser, Thomas Cook’s chief executive, said the firm’s collapse was a “matter of profound regret”. Hours after the company was put into liquidation, he apologised to both customers and to the 22,000 employees worldwide who have lost their jobs, including 9,000 in the UK.

The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the company’s demise after last minute negotiations - including an appeal for an injection of government cash -failed.

Travel agents across Cumbria have been touched by the crisis.

At independent Cockermouth Travel, on the town’s Main Street, manager Jackie Lowther said staff were busy helping customers who have been affected by the collapse.

“Some want a refund; and some are rebooking,” she said. “The holidays are ATOL-protected so they’ll get their money back.”