Local businesses have come together to offer free food and beauty treatments to Thomas Cook staff who have been made unemployed following the company's collapse.

Exmouth's Thomas Cook Travel Store, on Exeter Road closed on Monday (September 23) after the company ceased trading.

All of Thomas Cook's bookings, including flights and holidays have been cancelled.

Thomas Cook has confirmed that all the companies in its group have ceased trading, including Thomas Cook Airlines.

Exmouth beauticians Chelsea J-M Beauty are offering former Thomas Cook employees a free brow wax and shape. To be eligible you must be able to present a work ID or payslip.

Managing director Chelsea Martinez explained: "It was just so heartbreaking, a lot of my clients came in talking about how devastated some local families are.

"I thought, 'you know what, a little beauty treatment goes a long way when you're feeling down in the dumps'.

"I want to help as much as I can and I'm hoping to get this out to as many people as possible."

To find out more search Chelsea J-M Beauty on Facebook.

The managing directors of Veg In A Box, based in Clyst St Mary, decided to do something to help former Thomas Cook staff when they heard the news the company had ceased trading.

Initially the directors Julie Corcutt and Bela Dobrovenszki were only able to offer five veg boxes to families of Thomas Cook staff but soon after they advertised their kind offer on Facebook members of the public and business owners got in touch to offer money and support to supply more veg boxes.

Julie said: "I came into work in the morning and saw the news. We cover a wide area and we know a lot of families who have lost their jobs. We wanted to do something to help so we decided to offer former Thomas Cook staff members free veg boxes.

"We were inundated with calls, much more than we could cover. Lots of people got in touch and offered to donate money so other Thomas Cook staff could receive veg boxes. We've also made a deal with our local butchers, Daizey's Butchers in Cullompton, who are supplying some meat for the boxes. One of these boxes should keep a family in meals for at least ten days.

"I think it is an awful thing to happen, especially just before Christmas. It's the uncertainty as well, these poor people don't know when they will be paid."

The boxes include: two kilos of potatoes, carrots, onions, parsnips, swedes, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, mushrooms, pepper, romero peppers, kale, jacket potatoes, baking apples, rhubarb, satsumas, bananas, pears, plums, nectarines and oranges.

The boxes also include a portion of beef mince, chicken breasts and a Green Fox seasoning pack.

Julie and Bela would also like to thank local businessman Terry Quinn who donated enough money to give out five additional boxes.

If you are a former Thomas Cook employee and would like to find out more search for Veg In A Box on Facebook for more information. You will need to supply proof that you worked for Thomas Cook, either a work ID or past payslip.

Nub News would like to talk to any former Thomas Cook employees from East Devon, please email [email protected] to discuss how the travel provider's closure has affected you and your family.