ONE of the area's oldest established travel agents is set to throw open its doors again as restrictions are eased on international travel.

Travel agents Althams, which has shops in Bury and Ramsbottom, is due to resume high street trading after operating a telephone and online service during lockdown.

Their outlet in The Rock will reopen on Thursday and premises in Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, will be back from Wednesday.

A spokesman for the firm, which has been going for 140 years and also has branches in Blackburn, Darwen, Rawtenstall and Bolton, said: "We will be operating on lower staff numbers as we adhere to social distancing measures.

"Our shop staff will be available to help with new enquiries and bookings, however refunds will continue to be dealt with by our designated admin team who operate from a central office and from home."

Limits will be placed on the numbers allowed in shops and each of the reopening branches will be closed one day a week for staffing reasons.

The announcement comes after it was said 14-day quarantine requirements, for certain countries, would be relaxed.

But industry insiders say sunshine breaks and air travel might not be quite what holidaymakers were used to.

Jonathan Smith, from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta), said things like eateries only offering table service and new rules on flights will be different, but they should make the experience "safe and enjoyable".

He said: "It's very likely that people's holiday experience won't be the same as they had expected.

"There'll certainly be rules in place around airports and on aeroplanes, and if they're going on a package holiday there might be changes around buffet-style restaurant systems, and there'll be table service in place so there will be slight changes in place, but it's all about making sure that the holiday experience is safe and enjoyable."