A TRAVEL agent has celebrated its re-opening despite the current struggles the industry faces as a result of the coronavirus.

Hays Travel took over the Thomas Cook branch in Bicester in January and staff decided to hold a 'grand re-opening' event on Saturday.

Jodie Williams, 21, from Bicester, who has been a travel agent for five years, says since the coronavirus outbreak, people are still booking trips, but not to go abroad.

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She said: "Everyone has taken a hit and has seen a drop in foot flow, as expected it’s a collective panic. But we are still making bookings.

"We’ve seen an increase in UK bookings rather than abroad but we are still making bookings."

The impact of the coronavirus on bookings pushed airline Flybe into administration on March 5.

Miss Williams is the only member of staff to stay on at Hays Travel and is happy to continue doing what she loves.

She said: " It feels amazing to be able to still do what I love and still be in the same place where all my regular customers were that I’ve met over my years at Thomas Cook. I’m working with a totally new team now and they are all incredible as people and even better at what they do."