Three Black Country branches of travel giants Thomas Cook and Going Places are being axed as part of a cull of 151 shops nationwide following an £8 billion merger.

It is likely that around 730 jobs will be slashed across the UK, although staff will be offered the opportunity to be redeployed.

The bombshell follows the recent merger of Thomas Cook and MyTravel.

Among the shops set to close before the end of the financial year are Thomas Cook in Queen Street, Wolverhampton, and MyTravel’s Going Places outlets in the city’s Mander Centre and in the Old Square in Walsall.

Thomas Cook spokeswoman Jo Brand said today: “We are unable to confirm the number of staff affected at those stores.

“Using criteria that included financial performance, proximity to other stores and lease arrangements, 67 stores from the existing Thomas Cook network and 84 from the Going Places network were identified for closure.  

“It is proposed the majority would close before the end of this financial year,” she added.

The group will retain around 800 stores. A Thomas Cook shop first opened in Queen Street, Wolverhampton, in 1879.