High street travel firm Thomas Cook has announced it is cutting 510 jobs, with sales staff across the firm's retail travel shops worse affected.

There will be also be 100 redundancies among cabin crew at the Thomas Cook UK-owned JMC Airlines.

The firm's head office is in London with its tour operations, distribution and internet business based in Peterborough.

Alan Stewart, chief executive officer for Thomas Cook UK, said investment in information technology had led to more efficient practices in retail outlets.

'Contingency plans'

The role of 270 sales administrators in smaller shops will no longer exist.

A further 140 sales administrators in the larger shops will have their hours reduced in line with booking volumes.

Mr Stewart emphasised that the redundancy programme was not a direct result of declining sales after the terror acts in America.

Mr Stewart said: "Across the group we are actively monitoring the situation and pulling together a number of contingency plans."

The firm said it aims to further integrate the operating business of Thomas Cook UK with its German parent company Thomas Cook AG.