HAMILTON-BASED agency Stepek Travel has ceased trading.
ABTA is now dealing with claims from customers that had booked
with the agency.
The closure will lead to the loss of 25 staff and has been
blamed on both the September 11 terrorist attacks and financial problems at
sister company J Stepek Limited, which is a retailer of electrical goods.
Financial services company PrisewaterhouseCoopers has been
appointed interim managers as the travel agency business is wound up.
PWC hopes to keep the electrical retail operation going and
is working to salvage that side of the business.