MOST of the 20 staff formerly employed by disgraced local company Forest Travel have found alternative employment – many of them in other holiday businesses.

Forest Travel, with branches in Caldicot, Coleford, Cinderford and Lydney, collapsed in August.

Staff knew nothing of the company's problems – they were simply told to collect their bags, turn the lights off and go home.

But though they were owed wages – and have still to receive a penny – many of them carried on working unpaid behind the scenes with ABTA officials to make sure clients who had booked tickets and arranged holidays received what they had paid for.

Only 10 days ago they completed rearranging theatre trips after a local company, James Bevan, agreed to assist.

Angela Ratcliffe, who began working in Forest Travel 28 years ago, said all those employed by the company were still shocked by the swiftness of the closure.

"However it is time to move on," she said. "We are past the upset and the anger and now we have to make the best of a bad situation. I know I am speaking on behalf of all the staff when I say we did our very best to make sure everyone who had booked holidays received their tickets. Many were people we knew for years and we were not going to let them down.

"Most of us have found alternative employment, some of us in the travel business and we want our past customers to know where we are."

Angela is now with Travelcare at The County Store, Lydney, and says she wants to thank all Forest Travel customers who made enquiries about members of staff.

"I was stopped countless times in the street by people who were genuinely concerned about what had happened to us," she said.

The Review understands a number of former Forest Travel staff have taken legal advice in moves to claim the money they are owed in wages.