A Bradford holiday firm which was last month fined £2,500 for failing to have proper security in place to refund customers in the event of insolvency has announced it will cease trading.

Customers who had booked trips with Gain Travel Experience Ltd, in Wibsey, said they did not know if they would get their money back or if their holidays would go ahead after the company left a message on its answering machine saying it would close at the end of this week because of “challenging trading conditions”.

One customer, Susan Lavelle, of Shelf, who paid about £490 for a four-day trip to Kent, was outside the firm’s empty office in Fair Road yesterday trying to find out if her holiday, due to begin on Friday, had been cancelled.

She said: “We called the office to find out what time the coach was leaving and heard the message. No-one had contacted us.

“We don’t know what to do. We’ve got in touch with the hotel we’re supposed to be staying at, who say they’ve been paid for the booking in full, but we don’t know if there will still be a coach to take us there.”

Another customer, who did not want to be named, paid about £1,300 for a ten-day trip to Italy, but discovered the firm’s shop was shut when he arrived to collect his tickets last Friday.

He said he was unsure if he would get his money back, but hoped he would be covered by his own travel insurance policy.

The firm, which offers coach holidays in the UK and Europe and has been operating since 1984, was sentenced by Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court in May after pleading guilty to failing to have proper provisions in place to ensure customers would be paid back and repatriated if the business went into liquidation.

The hearing was told the correct requirements had since been put in place.

The Telegraph & Argus yesterday made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the company’s directors, but a message on the firm’s answering machine said: “Regrettably, in view of challenging trading conditions, the company will cease trading at the end of this week.

“We will not be taking any further bookings and a letter will be issued to existing customers and suppliers within the next few days. Your patience in these difficult times would be appreciated while the company and its advisors consider ways to assist customers. As mentioned earlier, a letter will be issued.

“To our wonderful customers and suppliers, we thank you for your support over the past nearly three decades and we hope we have provided you with some memorable times. All the best from the directors and staff of Gain Travel.”

During last month’s hearing, company secretary Gail Bottomley, 51, of Stanage Lane, Shelf, was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15. The company was fined £2,500, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £503.