FLY WITH ME: Thomas Cook staff in Rickmansworth set to have their jobs saved

Travel agent, Hays Travel, has made plans to re-open the Thomas Cook Rickmansworth branch with its original employees.

The store closed, making around 9,000 people redundant and leaving hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers stranded after its closure on September 23.

In a statement released by Hays Travel, they said: “We are delighted to say that we already have some former Thomas Cook stores open with their original staff in place, and customers are popping in to welcome them back while we get trading up and running.

“Hays Travel has acquired the entire retail portfolio of over 555 former Thomas Cook shops in the UK after it signed a deal with the Official Receiver and Special Managers at KPMG on October 9.

“Hays Travel have now offered 2050 jobs to former Thomas Cook employees.”

Liberal Democrat Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “It is fantastic news that Hays Travel have been able to save these local jobs and I can only imagine the relief this has given to former Thomas Cook employees.

“I look forward to welcoming Hays Travel to the High Street and I wish them all the best in the future. It is so important that we can continue to have a vibrant and busy town centre.”