Stores in Redcar, Alnwick, Morpeth, Teesside Park, MetroCentre Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough were the first to begin trading again following their acquisition by Hays late on Tuesday night.

“We are delighted to say that we already have some former Thomas Cook stores open with their original staff in place, and customers are popping to welcome them back while we get trading up and running,” said a Hays spokesperson.

A statement added: “We are re-opening all of 555 Thomas Cook shops as soon as possible and we are employing Thomas Cook people as fast as we can – 769 have been recruited and 180 made an offer up to last night.

“Our intention is to keep all the stores trading by making all of them profitable in their own right. The vast majority already are profitable and with some of the Hays Travel business approach and ethos, supported by our brilliant people, we are in good stead.”