Wigan-based holiday firm Shearings enters administration

Specialist Leisure Group, which owned Shearings and a number of other travel and hotel brands, announced administrators had been appointed on Friday afternoon.

A statement on Shearings' website said: "All tours, cruises, holidays and hotel breaks booked with the Specialist Leisure Group have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

"The Specialist Leisure Group operated several businesses that sold holidays and other travel arrangements under the following brand names, which have all ceased to trade, due to the impact of Covid-19."

Other affected firms include National Holidays, Bay Hotels, Coast and Country Hotels, and Caledonian Travel.

The statement says customers with cancelled package holiday bookings are "expected to have financial protection".

Information is available on Shearings' website about the next steps for customers to claim a refund.

Those not eligible for refunds are able to submit a claim to the administrator for consideration, though people are warned this should be a last resort as "it is not known if any money will be available to meet such claims".

Shearings, which is based on Waterside Drive in Wigan, employed 2,600 people and provided holidays to more than 170 locations across the UK and worldwide.

The firm has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic and many of its staff had been placed on furlough.

Last month it was reported that Specialist Leisure Group had filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, though talks were taking place to secure a rescue deal.

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