A GRANDMOTHER who was forced to cancel her holiday after being diagnosed with terminal cancer was sent a letter by her travel agent saying they hoped she booked with them in future.

Olive Green, 77, had been looking forward to a dream cruise to New York in August, but her plans were shattered when doctors said she had liver cancer.

Olive was left with no choice but to cancel her Cunard cruise and lose her 250 deposit.

But the retired machinist was left speechless when Thomas Cook sent her a letter confirming her cancellation saying: "We do hope to have the pleasure of handling your holiday arrangements in the future".

The sales consultant, who works at Middlesbrough's Linthorpe Road branch, also taped a 20p piece to the letter saying that Olive had paid too much.

"This is just adding insult to injury," said Olive, from Acklam, Middlesbrough.

"They obviously did not listen to what my partner was saying when he went in to cancel the trip - because if they had, they would have known how ill I am.

"If they had phoned me up and said they owed me 20p, I would have just told them to keep it. My friends and family all think it's absolutely disgraceful.

Olive had a growth removed from her liver last September, but it was not until March, this year that she found out she was suffering from terminal cancer.

"I would love to go on the ship because I love cruising, but I can't get travel insurance," said Olive. "And there's no way I would go onboard and get charged thousands of dollars if I took ill."

Olive has no plans to undergo chemotherapy and has instead vowed to live every day to the full.

"There's no cure for it," she said. "I can go on the chemo, but whatever life I've got left I want a good quality of life.

"I just don't want to do that and be laid up forever. I'm diabetic as well.

"They could have told me how long I've got left to live, but I said I don't want to know. I'll just wake up each day and hope for the best."

Olive, who has 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, will now holiday in England, and is looking forward to a trip down south.

A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: "We have apologised to Ms Green for the distress caused from receiving our letter.

"Although the letter and refund were sent in good faith, we realise the effect this has had and our thoughts are with the couple at this difficult time."