A PEEBLES couple have had their dream wedding in Turkey shattered by the collapse of Thomas Cook.

Groom Kevin Weir and his bride Kirsteen Barrett forked out £17,000 to fly their 23 guests to celebrate their wedding in the sun.

But with only two weeks to go until they jetted off to say their vows, news that the travel firm had gone bust wrecked their plans.

The distraught couple’s wedding is now in ruins and they fear it could take months before they see a penny of their money refunded.

Bride-to-be Kirsteen told the Peeblesshire News she broke down after hearing news that the travel operator had gone into liquidation this week.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I had to take the day off work as I couldn’t stop crying. I’m just breaking down whenever people contact me to say sorry. I just don’t know what to do about the wedding now. Kevin and I are absolutely gutted.”

The couple chose to tie the knot in Turkey as it’s where they got engaged. They have been planning and saving for the wedding for a year.

“We have worked hard all year and saved for this and it’s all been taken away from us with only two weeks to go. We are absolutely heartbroken,” said Kirsteen.

With their dream wedding now in tatters, Kirsteen spent Monday on the phone trying to get some answers.

“I have not heard anything from Thomas Cook. It just says on their website to contact the Civil Aviation Authority but they are not doing anything about refunds at the moment. We have paid around £17,000 to Thomas Cook and this is not including the wedding costs. The way the company has gone about this is just rotten.”

Out of pocket, plans to walk down the aisle have now been cancelled. “We need to wait until the end of the month before we can apply for a refund from the CAA so we can’t book a thing. And they are saying it could take up to months to sort everything out because of the amount of people involved.

“All the wedding arrangements were paid for. I will see nothing back for that. We don’t know where to turn now or what to do. We are just so numb and worn out. We had 23 family and friends who saved hard to come and celebrate with us. We are so upset.”

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