Hundreds of job losses are feared at a Bromley tour operator because of financial problems in the travel industry.

The 300 members of staff at JMC, in Elmfield Road, which is part of Thomas Cook, will have to either relocate to Peterborough by the end of 2002 or face redundancy.

The move is part of a £140m cost-cutting measure at Thomas Cook over the next year following a drop in travel bookings since September 11.

And union officials say they will fight for Thomas Cook to offer JMC staff jobs elsewhere in London if they do not want to relocate to Peterborough.

Thomas Cook chief executive Alan Stewart said: "Since September 11, sales of both winter 2001 and summer 2002 holidays have declined significantly across the industry.

"As a result, Thomas Cook UK has announced it intends to reduce its capacity by between 15 and 20 per cent.

He went on: "As part of this move all departments supporting JMC tour-operating activities from Bromley and London's Midford Place will begin to move to Peterborough early in the New Year. The company intends to complete this exercise as soon as possible, or by the end of 2002.

"Our tour operating businesses are currently operating from many different locations throughout the UK.

"To ensure improved business efficiency we need to consolidate all these activities into a smaller number of bases. We hope to retain as many of the staff this move will affect as possible to ensure we continue to build what are some of the UK's best-known and respected holiday brands."

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) says it is working with Thomas Cook to see whether staff who do not wish to relocate can be found jobs elsewhere in London.

TSSA official Seyi Clement said: "The travel industry is in a very difficult position since the events of September 11 and we are aware of possible redundancies if people at JMC do not wish to relocate.

"But we will continue to talk to the company to see if they can find other jobs for staff in London."