A young couple's bargain Balkan holiday which cost them just £20 each has been cancelled.

Emma Bailey and her boyfriend James McIntyre have been told they cannot have the holiday, even though they had paid for it and have a booking receipt.

However, trading standards officers and the Association of British Travel Agents say either the travel agent or the holiday company must honour the agreement.

Emma, 20, of Cross Hills, a trainee accountant, and James McIntyre, of Silsden, a student in Leeds, are both facing crucial exams later in the year. They went to Thomas Cook travel agents in Keighley's Airedale Centre in the hope of finding a relaxing week away from studying before their final exams.

They could not believe their luck when they were offered the seven-day half-board holiday for just £20 each through tour operator Balkan Holidays.

"The sales lady was trawling through the computer when the holiday came up on the screen," says Emma. "She said it was a bit cheap but we booked it anyway."

The holiday was for the three-star Hotel Sever/Yug at the Sunny Beach resort in Bulgaria, on the coast of the Black Sea.

The couple paid for the holiday there and then - a total cost of £107.40 which included £33.70 each for travel insurance. They received their written confirmation.

The same holiday in the Balkan Holidays Summer Sun '98 brochure is advertised at £315 per person on a bed and breakfast basis.

The couple were due to fly from Leeds/Bradford Airport on June 21, but they have now been told their holiday is off.

"I couldn't believe it," says Emma. "I went to the shop the following Wednesday and the lady showed me the invoice that had come from Balkan Holidays. It was for the price we paid but she had a word with the shop manager and he told her to speak to Balkan Holidays. It was then I was told we could not have the holiday."

The couple were given a full refund by Thomas Cook.

Furious Emma contacted the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Office who told her that, technically, she was entitled to the holiday.

A spokesman for trading standards told the Keighley News that the couple do have a contract with one of the companies and it should be honoured.

"As soon as they have the confirmation, the contract has been entered into," he said. "Thomas Cook are acting under an agreement with the tour operator Balkan Holidays. They will have to sort out between them who has made the error and who is responsible for honouring the booking."

He added that the couple could sue for the difference in the amount between the holiday they have been offered and a similar one.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents agrees that one or the other of the two companies should honour the agreement. "It all depends on who the error lies with," she says.

Disheartened Emma, who has since written to Balkan Holidays to complain, says: "We are very disappointed. We have had no real explanation and no real apology from either of the companies.

"We booked and paid for the holiday in good faith and now we have nothing. We certainly won't be booking through Thomas Cook again and we are unlikely to ever go on holiday with Balkan Holidays."

A spokesman for Balkan Holidays confirmed the firm has received a complaint but was unable to comment further.

A spokesman at Thomas Cook said the member of staff who took the booking is on sick leave and the shop manager is on holiday. They could not comment at the moment.

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