One of Britain’s most popular holiday companies went to the wall last week, leaving hundreds of families without the summer break they’ve paid for.

I have every sympathy with those people caught up in this, as I’ve been there myself on two separate occasions when a holiday I booked didn’t materialise.

However, in my case it wasn’t companies going bust, it was fraudsters who scammed hundreds of people and fortunately ended up in prison.

Thankfully I was able to recoup what I’d forked out because I’d used a credit card to pay for the holidays.

Low Cost Holidays promised exactly that, an affordable family holiday for those on low incomes and families who otherwise may not have been able to afford a holiday at all.

Sadly in this instance buying cheap wasn’t the best answer.

Only two days before the company ceased trading Helen and I were on the their website looking for a last minute break.

Thank goodness we couldn’t make our minds up where to go, or one could have become one more statistic.

One alarming aspect about this company which has just come to light, is that they traded from Spain and not the UK and therefore didn’t have the same protection afforded to British registered travel agents and tour operators.

The only real positive is flights booked through the company with budget airlines will probably be safe, but unfortunately hotel accommodation and transfers will not.

So, not only do we need to check that an online holiday provider is covered by being a member of ABTA or ATOL registered, they also need to be trading from this country and not abroad.

Another reason for being sure we are buying British.

How can EU even consider Turkey?

Am I glad I wasn’t on holiday in Turkey when the attempted coup took place last week.

Now there are a flurry of reasons and theories being put forward for the coup attempt, all of which point to a state of confusion and chaos in a deeply troubled country.

After rounding up or sacking more than 50,000 people, President Erdogan is talking about bringing back the death sentence for the ring leaders.

How can the EU possibly consider allowing Turkey, with such a tyrant at its helm and an obvious history of torture and abuse of human rights in its past, become a member of their club?

I’m so glad we’re not going to be a part of it.