Woman misses birthday trip to Crufts as result of FlyBe collapse

Annette Black, pictured with her dog, Red, had been looking forward to Crufts for a year.

Annette Black from Livingston was due to fly to Birmingham yesterday to attend dog show Crufts - a trip which was a 70th birthday present from her three children.

Ms Black, who trains her own dogs with Excel club in West Calder, was set to depart yesterday morning but heard that the airline had collapsed.

She said: “It was a wee bit of a shock. I knew they were on a sticky wicket last year so I held off booking the flights until they were bailed out in January and booked them in February.

“I am absolutely gutted because I love going to Crufts. I’m a dog person and the agility team from the club where I train were due to be there and

I was looking forward to watching them. I’ve been waiting all year for this.

“I’ve been a couple of times before and this trip - with my daughter - was my 70th birthday present from my son and two daughters. I hope I might be able to get some of the money back because I feel bad that it was their money and their present which was lost. The flights were about

£120 each and then we had a hotel booked for a night too, which we won’t get back.

“Of course, I feel most sorry for the staff who work for FlyBe, they are the ones my heart goes out to. This is their livelihood, it is really rubbish for them.”