PENSIONERS fear they have been left out of pocket after a long-running holiday company in Amblecote ceased trading.

Holidaymakers have been contacting the News to say they have not been able to get hold of anyone from independent coach tour operator Group Travel Ltd, based at Audnam, on the A491, which has been running since 1982.

And they have today (Tuesday) reported receiving letters from the company confirming it has ceased trading.

Stourbridge News:

One couple, regular customers of Group Travel, were due to go on a trip to Torquay next Monday (January 22) - having already paid just over £300 for the winter break.

They told the News: "We've been trying for two weeks to get in touch and we rang the hotel in Torquay and they said they do not have a booking for them.

"It's upsetting for people involved. We'd so looked forward to it. It's the same hotel we'd gone to four or five times."

They said they went on a trip with the firm as recently as November and added: "We've always found them reliable. There was no hint this was going to happen."

The company was still listed as active on the Companies House website today (Tuesday) but holidaymakers have reported receiving a letter from Group Travel Ltd telling them the company has ceased trading and their holiday had been cancelled.

The letter said the firm was taking legal advice from a licensed insolvency practitioner on the company’s financial position and further details would be provided at a later date and it added: "You will be contacted in due course regarding the procedure for holiday refunds. We apologise for having to cancel your holiday/tour at such late notice and apologise for any inconvenience caused."

Another regular customer said the firm had cancelled a weekend trip to York scheduled for November 25 and he was owed a refund but a cheque for £242 which he'd been expecting never materialised.

He said: "As time went on we did wonder what was going on."