TRAVELSCOPE, which was one of the companies used by the Lancashire Telegraph and Newsquest to provide reader holidays, has gone into administration.

The firm, which is based in Gloucestershire and supplies holidays to newspapers across the country, announced on Friday that it would cease trading.

An administrator has since been appointed to examine the company's financial situation and whether it can be saved.

As the firm was one of the tour operators used by the Lancashire Telegraph, holidays booked by readers through Travelscope to be taken on or before Wednesday, January 2, have been cancelled.

Travelscope has said in a statement on its website that the situation for bookings involving holidays to be taken on or after Thursday January 3 is still uncertain.

It added that all customers whose holidays have been cancelled would receive a full refund.

Sharon Crymble, Lancashire Telegraph reader holiday and promotions manager, said: "The tour operator is ABTA and ATOL bonded.

"All customers' details have been passed on to ABTA and ATOL by Travelscope and everyone will be sent a claim form, which will need to be completed and returned in order to claim a refund.

"You can view the statement at www.travelscope.co.uk, where there is also a link to request a claim form."

Most of the holidays booked through the Lancashire Telegraph readers holidays are with a travel firm called Leisure Direct, which is unconnected to Travelscope.

Only holidays booked with Travelscope have been cancelled.