Thomas Cook customers vent frustration at refund delays after lost trips totalled almost £600m

Holidaymakers lost trips costing more than half a billion pounds when Thomas Cook collapsed, new figures show.

The Insolvency Service said £585 million was owed to customers for package holidays, flights and other services after the firm went bust in September.

Trade creditors such as hoteliers, airports and aircraft catering suppliers were owed £885m.

Former Thomas Cook customers have vented their frustration at refund delays

The Insolvency Service said it is not known how much of the money will be paid back as a result of the liquidation.

Some 300,000 of the cancelled holidays are financially protected under the Atol scheme, although earlier this month the Civil Aviation Authority said around one in three of the first people to claim refunds were not paid within the 60-day target.

The regulator insists it wants to issue refunds "as soon as possible", but said some cannot be paid until additional information is provided by claimants.

The trips lost by Thomas Cook customers after the travel agent's collapse amounted to almost 600 million pounds

Dale Edwards wrote on Twitter: "Day 67 still no refund. All information sent to Protect Claims."

He added: "Really getting annoyed now."

Another customer, Sarah Aves, wrote: "I have emailed 6 times. No reply, have not received my refund and have not been asked for additional information. Claim was submitted 7th October. What is going on!"

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: "This is a stark reminder of the huge financial impact that the collapse of Thomas Cook has had on hundreds of thousands of customers, who saw plans for holidays, weddings and other long-awaited trips vanish into thin air.

"While it is understandably frustrating for customers who are still waiting to get their money back, we would urge people to make sure they stick with official channels as scammers have tried to take advantage in the past.

"In the longer term, the government must look at what measures can be introduced to ensure that holidaymakers aren't left picking up the pieces when holiday firms or airlines collapse."