LANCASHIRE holidaymakers are among the tens of thousands of customers hit by the collapse of the UK’s third largest tour operator.

XL Leisure Group went into administration early today having failed to secure a rescue package amid deep financial difficulties.

The group, which had been taking holiday bookings until recently, said all its flights had been cancelled and its fleet of aircraft grounded.

It said it had been hit by rising fuel costs and the credit crunch.

And one woman has told how she has been left “out of pocket” because of the holiday operator’s collapse.

Janette Scholes, 31, from Ewood, Blackburn, has had to pay an extra £700 for flights to save her holiday to Lanzarote.

Mrs Scholes said she was “angry and upset” when she heard the news this morning.

She said: “I can’t believe what has happened. We’ve had to pay out for additional flights and won’t get a refund from XL.”

Janette was due to fly from Manchester next Thursday with her husband, parents and 15 month old daughter.

She said: ”We now have to start our holiday two days later.”