URGENT talks are being held in an attempt to save holiday firm Travelscope which went into receivership before Christmas.

Administrators are desperately trying to find a buyer to take over the company, which was set up in Stonehouse by Richard Ford in 1992 before it relocated to the Brockworth.

As reported in the Gazette last week, around 250 people could be made redundant and thousands of holidays were cancelled after the firm went into adminstration on Friday, December 21.

While many of the 4,000 holidaymakers who booked trips with the company on or before January 2 will not be able to travel, around 450 have been lucky.

They paid £9,000 for a three-month round-the-world cruise on the Dutch liner Van Gogh, which sets sail from Falmouth on January 4.

Administrator Paul Clark, of Menzies Corporate Restructuring, said several companies have expressed an interest in taking over the company.

"Discussions are ongoing," he said.

"The position regarding departures due on or after January 3 remain uncertain but further information will be provided to all customers as and when it becomes available."

He added that discussions have been hampered by the Christmas period, with many interested companies unable to make a decision until the New Year.

Time is running out and his fear is that if an offer is made it may come in too late to save Travelscope, which had a turn over of around £80 million in 2007, making it the 21st biggest company in Gloucestershire.

The firm experienced several problems recently including a cancelled cruise and legal action arising following a death on a cruise and delays in the move to Brockworth.

An answerphone message at the company's offices says it is no longer taking bookings.

Travelscope is ABTA and ATOL bonded. Anyone who has booked a Travelscope holiday and is planning to travel in the next 14 days should check before departing with ABTA on 020 7637 2444 or at www.abta.com or if travelling by air call ATOL tel: 020 7453 6431 or visit www.caa.co.uk