The UK's largest independent travel agent, Hays Travel, is to buy the entire UK store estate of its former rival Thomas Cook, including its store in Shepton Mallet.

Hays said that it would buy all 555 of the firm's shops and re-employ a "significant" number of former store staff who were made redundant when the operator went into liquidation last month.

Hays already owns 190 travel agent shops, and it works with tour operators such as TUI. Around 2,400 Thomas Cook retail staff lost their jobs when the tour operator went bust.

John and Irene Hays, managing director and group chair of Hays Travel, said: "Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand employing talented people.

"We look forward to working with many of them."

Official Receiver David Chapman said: "This represents an important step in the liquidation process, as we seek to realise Thomas Cook's assets."