The proposed takeover by holiday giant Thomas Cook of two British travel businesses was referred to UK competition authorities by EU regulators today.

The planned merger of the high street travel businesses of Thomas Cook and the Co-op has been referred to the UK's Office of Fair Trading for investigation, it emerged today.

The proposed merger of the high street travel businesses of Thomas Cook and the Co-op was dealt a blow today after the Office of Fair Trading said the move significantly threatened competition.

THE late Billy Nagle, a native of Buttevant, Co Cork, who died last week, was a champion of the co-operative movement and a leading figure in Irish agri-business.