An Oxford couple have joined the list of Oxfordshire residents who had their Christmas plans torn to shreds following the collapse of Travelscope.

Pensioners Eileen and Gordon Ilott missed out on a festive trip to Germany following the sudden closure of the holiday firm.

The couple, from Broad Oak, Headington, were due to join a coach trip to Koblenz on Sunday, but their £400 trip was cancelled after the business went into administration.

The couple were about to pack their suitcases when they received a phone call telling them they would not be going.

It is estimated 10,000 people lost their holidays in the Gloucester-based company's collapse.

Mrs Ilott said: "We were told on Saturday morning that the firm had gone into administration, so then we had a mad dash to Tesco in Cowley to buy turkey for Christmas before it was all gone.

"We were looking forward to our first Christmas abroad in the Rhine Valley but unfortunately it was not to be.

"The day after we got the telephone call, I started to feel really angry about this because I'm sure we could have been given more notice."

Mr Ilott added: "Eileen has not been well this year and we were both looking forward to it.

"We should get a refund on the holiday but not on the insurance."