'Totally devastated': Couple's Cuba wedding cancelled after Thomas Cook collapse

A couple from Dumfries and Galloway have told ITV Border of their devastation after their dream wedding in Cuba was cancelled when Thomas Cook collapsed.

Joanne Wright and fiancé Paul Anderson paid £7,000 for their all-inclusive holiday and ceremony in Playa Pesquera.

The couple and their children - flower girls Phoebe and Hollie, and five-year-old page boy Alfie - were set to fly out in nine days' time.

The travel giant Thomas Cook ceased trading on Monday morning after failing to secure a last-ditch rescue deal needed to keep the business afloat.

Thomas Cook planes on the tarmac at Gatwick Airport. Credit: PA

All future bookings with Thomas Cook were cancelled which has affected around one million people across the UK.

Some 150,000 tourists will be brought home over the next two weeks in a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) flight programme costing £100 million.

Joanna and Paul should get their money back, however, they say they have lost at least two thousands pounds from extra expenses.

Hundreds of pound were spent on translating marriage documents and planned excursions in Cuba, all of which cannot be refunded.

The travel firm employs 21,000 people in 16 countries, including 9,000 jobs in the UK. Ten branches are located across Cumbria and southern Scotland, whose employees have all lost their jobs.

List of branches:

  • Annan

  • Carlisle

  • Dumfries

  • Galashiels

  • Penrith

  • Kendal

  • Stranraer

  • Whitehaven

  • Workington

  • Ulverston

  • Thomas Cook customers are advised to visit the CAA's dedicated website, thomascook.caa.co.uk, for more information about what they should do next.

  • If you have been affected by the collapse of Thomas Cook, we would like to hear from you. Email btvnews@itv.com