British mum stranded in Tunisia after Thomas Cook goes bust

"I had a flight booked with Thomas Cook to return back to the UK on 8 October which no longer exists," Julie Paige said to the BBC. 

Paige's return flight from Tunisia to the UK fell outside a two-week Civil Aviation Authority repatriation scheme by just one day.

The scheme was created to help repatriate those who found themselves abandoned by the British travel group, but prioritised to those who were due to return before Julie’s flight. 

Like many others which did not have travel insurance, Paige could not afford to pay a return flight before receiving compensation from the CAA's insurance program. 

"It's nearly 900 Tunisian dinar. I haven't got £300 for another flight.

"I'm stuck. I just didn't expect this to happen. I live month to month as a single parent and I have no spare money. I don't know what to do. When you haven't got any money, you haven't got any options."

The CAA assured passengers travelling after the 7 October could return on the repatriation flight scheme, but this was subject to availability on carriers taking the 150,000 travellers home, the regulator told the BBC. 

When asked about passengers like Paige, the CAA said that few people fell outside their repatriation plan.

If they did they should turn to their travel insurance company, ank, or the Foreign Office. 

An additional 800,000 clients are seeking refunds after Thomas Cook went into liquidation on 23 September, after 178 years of service.