THE former branch of Thomas Cook in Basingstoke town centre is yet to re-open as a Hays Travel because the company has not yet found enough staff to run it.

It was announced earlier this month that the UK’s largest independent travel agent had bought the historic holiday company’s high street shops, in a move which could save up to 2,500 jobs following the collapse of Thomas Cook.

Hays Travel acquired the entire retail portfolio of 555 former Thomas Cook shops, including the one in The Malls, Basingstoke.

However, despite a sign being posted on the window saying it hopes to re-open the shop as Hays Travel ‘as soon as possible’, the company has not yet found enough staff to run it.

Hays Travel already has a branch in Wote Street, which opened around two-and-a-half-years ago, and which will continue to operate once the additional branch in The Malls opens.

A spokeswoman for Hays Travel said all former Thomas Cook staff had been offered a job, but all the Basingstoke employees had already moved on elsewhere.

Thomas Cook was placed in compulsory liquidation on September 23. On October 9, Hays Travel announced it would buy all Thomas Cook shops.

John Hays said: “Our staff were devastated to hear about Thomas Cook and we all immediately felt we wanted to help.

“In the last two weeks we have already employed or offered jobs to around 600 former Thomas Cook colleagues, and it has been a very emotional experience for them. Now that we are able to re-open the shops, we are looking forward to welcoming many more people who share our passion for the travel industry, into our family business.

“I’m very proud of the fantastic team who have helped me build Hays Travel over almost 40 years and they have worked tirelessly over the last couple of weeks to bring this about. It is a game-change for us, almost trebling the number of shops we have and doubling our workforce – and for the industry, which will get to keep some of its most talented people.”