An urgent plan to bring thousands of stranded tourists back to England has been launched by the government following the collapse of Thomas Cook.

The travel firm has cancelled all of its flights and its employees are now out of work.

Dubbed the largest repatriation in peacetime history, dozens of charter planes have been hired in order to bring Thomas Cook customers home free of charge.

All customers currently abroad with with the now-bust-company who are booked to return to the UK over the next two weeks will be brought home as close as possible to their booked return date.

The flights will start operating from today, with details being posted on a special newly-formed website.

Customers are strongly advised not to cut short their holiday or go to the airport without checking the website for information about their return journey.

Those who haven't already left the UK but were booked with Thomas Cook should not go to the airport as all of the firm's flights are grounded. The dedicated website will let customers know how to get their money back.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: "This will be a hugely worrying time for employees of Thomas Cook, as well as their customers.

"Government will do all it can to support them. I will be setting up a cross-government taskforce to monitor local impacts, will write to insurance companies to ask them to process claims quickly, and stand ready to provide assistance and advice.

"I will also be writing to the Insolvency Service to ask them to prioritise and fast-track their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Thomas Cook going into liquidation."

The UK CAA is also contacting hotels accommodating Thomas Cook customers, who have booked as part of a package, to tell them that the cost of their accommodation will also be covered by the government.

The government has pledged that "whether customers are ATOL protected or not, or what their nationality is", everyone on a Thomas Cook holiday with a return flight to the UK within the two weeks will be brought home.

Codenamed Operation Matterhorn, ministerial meetings will be held today as further plans to bring more than 150,000 holidaymakers home are discussed.

The operation is modelled on the repatriation of passengers after the collapse of Monarch Airways - which cost taxpayers was about £50 million. The repatriation effort with Thomas Cook is about twice the size.

A 24-hour helpline has been set up for customers - 0300 303 2800

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