Former Thomas Cook back in business as Hays on Stafford High Street

The Stafford High Street store closed following the collapse of Thomas Cook on September 23, but has now reopened its doors.

Employees were emotional as they opened the branch for the first time since the collapse after their jobs were saved by Hays Travel.

The company, based in Sunderland, bought Thomas Cook’s 555 shops on October 9 in a deal that promises to save 2,000 jobs.

Callum Nairn, assistant store manager, said: "It was such a shock when Thomas Cook collapsed, we had no planning beforehand and knew nothing until it hit the news in the early hours.

"When Hays Travel announced they were going to take over we were all so pleased to get back into work and start serving the community again.

"It was such a relief to know that I had my job back, I love working here with the team.

"Tuesday was the first time we'd opened the door since the collapse.

"Even that first day we came back we were busy. When customers walked by and noticed we were open again they popped in to the store and welcomed us back, they were all so pleased to see that we have reopened.

"The Thomas Cook store in Stafford had been open for a long time, so we had a lot of our previous regular customers coming too."

The staff are in the process of revamping for the grand opening on November 2, but they are inviting customers to come in and say hello in the meantime.

Former Thomas Cook stores have also reopened as Hays branches in Wolverhampton and Oldbury.