STAFF at the Barrow branch of Thomas Cook offered a heartfelt apology to the 150,000 customers stranded by the collapse of the company.

Employees at the Dalton Road branch including Kimberley White, Susanne Williams, Leanne Cavan, Laura Deakin, Laura Moore and Ellis Dover are among the 22,000 staff at risk of losing their jobs.

Speaking exclusively to The Mail yesterday, they said: “We are all truly heartbroken by today’s news and so sorry to all our customers, some of whom have become friends.”

It is feared the collapse has left up to 150,000 UK holidaymakers stranded.

Dalton resident Laura Newsome was on one of Thomas Cook’s final flights back into the UK on Sunday evening.

The 29-year-old had been returning from holiday in Cyprus. She said: “At the start of the flight the captain seemed really chipper and told us to go gentle on the staff after the news.

“When we landed the captain seemed to be crying as he said thanks for flying with Thomas Cook for the last time, the whole plane clapped and cheered, I’ve never heard people clap so loud.

“It kind of brought it home because you see it in the papers but to watch people lose their jobs in front of you was hard.

“When we pulled up to the airport there were loads of Thomas Cook planes all in darkness and staff were taking photos of them, it was harrowing.”

Barrow residents Jacqui Cochrane and her husband Mark have been stranded in Bulgaria while they wait for a flight home.

The couple who are due back on Tuesday are worried about the delay as Mark is a diabetic who only has enough insulin with him to last until Tuesday.

Speaking from Bulgaria Jacqui said: “The rep calmed me down this morning saying they were meeting at 11am our time and they were sorting it but I’ve not heard anything since so now I’m starting to worry.

“When I’ve messaged the 24 hour number I just get a message back saying that they’ve gone into liquidation.”

Support for the staff has been growing with Barrow AFC offering complimentary tickets to all Barrow and Ulverston Thomas Cook staff to attend their match on Saturday.