A DISTRAUGHT couple were forced to abandon their holiday and could be left more than £1,000 out of pocket after the collapse of a holiday company.

Cheryl and Peter Rodger had hoped to mark her 50th birthday with an all-inclusive trip to Fuerteventura in September.

They were due to stay at the Hotel Arena, in Corralejo.

However, they were left in the lurch when the company they booked with, Lowcost Holidays, went bust.

Now Cheryl, of Litchfield, Dovercourt, said their holiday would almost certainly have to be abandoned, with the fate of their money uncertain.

The couple paid a £849 deposit in December and a further £316 at the beginning of June.

“When I found out what had happened, I was an emotional wreck,” said Cheryl.

“I have put in a dispute form with the bank. I haven’t heard anything yet, but it is our last bid to get the money back.

“It was never explained to us, but in the small print it said we weren’t covered by our travel insurance if the company collapsed.

“We have heard absolutely nothing from the company and have had no help from them.”

She added: “We booked all-inclusive with Lowcost Holidays – that’s flights, transfer and hotel and, basically, we are stuffed.

“I was going there for my 50th birthday party.

“The hotel said they could hold our room if we paid another £750 – we cannot do this. We cannot afford to re-book.

“We got in touch with Ryanair and got a £62 phone bill, only for them to tell us there was no record of the flights being booked.

“No money was actually ever given to Ryanair by Lowcost Holidays.”

Lowcost Holidays went into liquidation on July 15, leaving 27,000 holidaymakers in resorts and 110,000 more with bookings.

It was not covered by the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing protection scheme.