ALL but seven of the trips arranged through Great Yarmouth's Atlantis Travel are going ahead under Lowestoft-based London Colney Coaches, it was confirmed this week.

ALL but seven of the trips arranged through Great Yarmouth's Atlantis Travel

are going ahead under Lowestoft-based London Colney Coaches, it was confirmed this week.

Simon Paul of Simon Paul Travel, stressed that all excursions were

still on course except for a

handful that were undersubscribed, following the merger with London Colney, who specialise in Spanish holidays but are now adding day-trips to their offer.

Mr Paul robustly refuted claims

that customers had no way of contacting the company in Regent Street after the merger, saying that although the shutters were down the telephone was still working and some neighbouring shops knew how to contact him.

The Gorleston-businessman who owns a fleet of coaches which undertake local school runs

and operates under contract on

the continent, said he had tried

his hand at the day-trip market

but was unable to give it his full attention given his other commitments.

He added that hundreds of people had thoroughly enjoyed numerous trips with the company to various destinations including Belgium, Paris, Spalding, Cadbury World and London museums.

He said: “Everyone who has been on our trips has loved it but it has been too much with my other business commitments. Janis and Carol at London Colney are much more experienced.”

Mr Paul contacted the Mercury following last week's story about Mavis Arnold, who said her group

of old folks were owed around £400

for a trip to the London Eye on

June 29.

He said she should have had a letter informing her that as of April 1 Atlantis Coach Travel had merged with London Colney Coaches, who would be operating the 2008 programme along with their own excursion and holiday programme, and confirmed the trip was going ahead.

However, the company did not appear to have the correct paperwork for Mrs Arnold's booking.

Since publishing the story the Mercury has received many messages about Atlantis. One read: “I too had booked a party of friends on a trip to Longleat Safari Park and noticed that the shop was shut, but within a couple of days I received a letter from London Colney Coaches of Lowestoft explaining that the two companies had merged.

“When I contacted them they couldn't have been more helpful. There was a slight hiccup with dates which was sorted very quickly, we are all now looking forward to our day out.”

The Mercury apologises for any misunderstanding and is happy to set the record straight.

Anyone with a query about their booking or who would like to know more about trips offered by London Colney Coaches can call 01502

512244.