NEWS that a Reading couple booked a £2,000 holiday through Thomas Cook with vouchers that were about to become worthless has surprised and amused Chronicle readers.

Responding to the article on Facebook, Sheila Flo Miles said: "Very clever move."

READ THE FULL STORY: Reading couple book £2,000 Thomas Cook holiday - the day before the company went bust

Astute Chris King booked the family holiday at Reading's Thomas Cook shop the day before the company went bust, hoping they would be covered by Atol.

According the The Mirror, Chris had been saving the vouchers for a dream family holiday, and once he heard that the company were on the verge of collapse, he rushed to the Reading store to book a last-minute holiday.

A flood of responses to quick-thinking Chris' decision to make the best of a bad situation have since flown in from entertained readers.

READ MORE: Thomas Cook: What happens next?

There was also some confusion from those who didn't understand why the family decided to book a holiday with a company under threat of collapse.

One commented: "We knew days ago they were in serious trouble so why go there and book a holiday?"

But most applauded the father's clever idea, as he should soon be able to claim the money for a family holiday back rather than being stuck with vouchers that cannot be used.

READ MORE: Reading's Thomas Cook store appears open still as lights remain on.

Cameron Macken said: "Stroke of genius. Well done to the lad who did it", while Paula Lamport said: "Well done, smart move."

Speaking to The Mirror, Chris said: "I walked in the shop and the three of them, stopped and looked at me like I was an outsider walking into a western bar. I think they thought I was crazy."

Thomas Cook ceased trading in the early hours of Monday morning after failing to secure a last-ditch rescue deal.

Holidaymakers already abroad will be flown home as close as possible to their original return time and date.

All future Thomas Cook bookings have been cancelled, affecting around one million people.

Richard Moriarty, the chief executive of the CAA, said the Government had asked his organisation to launch "the UK's largest ever peacetime repatriation" which will involve flights from 53 airports in 18 countries.