By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 12:01, Thursday, 07 March 2013

Staff at Thomas Cook travel agencies were expected to find out today if their jobs are safe.

Thomas Cook shop in Whitehaven

The firm has announced plans to cut 2,500 UK jobs and close 195 high street branches.

It was briefing staff before announcing today which ones would shut.

Thomas Cook has travel agencies at English Street and Fisher Street, Carlisle; Middlegate and Little Dockray, Penrith; Lowther Street and King Street, Whitehaven; Murray Road, Workington; and High Street, Annan.

It says closures are more likely in areas where it has more than one outlet.

Thomas Cook will be left with 874 travel agencies in the UK.

The company said the moves were being made as part of restructuring and to slash costs.

The job losses – 16 per cent of Thomas Cook’s 15,500 workforce – affect admin staff as well as the high street.

It is planning to close an office at Accrington in Lancashire.

Managerial jobs are also at risk at the head office in Peterborough and at an office in Preston.

The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, which represents employees, said it was “shocked and angry”.

Thomas Cook made a £590m loss in the last financial year.

First published at 11:58, Thursday, 07 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk