SCORES of Thomas Cook staff in branches across Hampshire are today fearing for their future after the travel giant unveiled plans to axe one in seven workers.

It is too early to say whether the axe will fall at any of the region's 12 branches, including Winchester, Eastleigh, Fareham, Locks Heath, Gosport and two in Southampton.

But bosses say 150 stores will close and up to 2,800 posts will be cut in a move designed to save £95m a year. It comes after the German-owned travel agent's £8 billion merger with rival MyTravel.

Problems predicted Unions had forecast the deal, giving the company a 35 per cent share of the UK package holiday market, flying 6.3 million British passengers and 19.1 million in total, would be bad news for staff.

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association general secretary Gerry Doherty said: "We warned when the German-owned Thomas Cook announced this merger in February that it would be the British workforce that would pay the price because of our weaker labour laws."

Thomas Cook's joint chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa said: "We appreciate that some employees will either not want to take up our offer of redeployment or will be unable to do so.

"For those employees we will provide appropriate redundancy packages and full support."

Travel agents have come under increasing pressure to consolidate and cut costs following competition from the Internet.

This year, Thomson Holidays, owner First Choice, also announced merger plans with European giant TUI's travel business.

That could be bad news for many Hampshire Thomson and First Choice staff. First Choice has eight Hampshire shops and Holiday Hypermarket in Southampton's Harbour Parade. Thomson also has branches across the region.