THE careers of staff made redundant following the collapse of Thomas Cook have taken off again with the opening of a new Wirral travel agency.

Hays Travel took over Thomas Cook's branch in Liscard Way, Liscard after the firm went out of business in September, bringing a team made up of ex-retail staff, airline staff and reps back to work.

The staff have more than 50 years of experience in travel between them.

Among them is store manager Amber, whose career started at the Liscard store in 2014.

On returning to the travel agency she said: "It was a huge relief, massive stress off of our shoulders.

"This isn't just a job to us, it's our passion and our Thomas Cook family was broken up.

"We are all so happy to be working back in travel.

"I moved around Thomas Cook stores and lost my job whilst working as a deputy manager in Thomas Cook's second largest store."

On the new team at the branch in Liscard Way, Amber continued: "We've got ex Thomas Cook retail staff, ex Thomas Cook airline staff and ex-Thomas Cook reps.

"Five of us in our store lost our jobs with Thomas Cook and John Hays took us all on.

"We pride ourselves on our expert knowledge and exceptional customer service."

Hays Travel has already employed thousands of members of Thomas Cook staff since the travel group went out of business. It is owned by Husband and wife team Irene and John Hays.

The 178-year-old Thomas Cook folded on September 23 after failing to secure a last-minute rescue deal.

The news left around 150,000 passengers stranded abroad, the last of whom were returned to the UK days after.