Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

THE Foreign Office has urged British tourists in Tunisia to leave the country IMMEDIATELY as another terror attack is considered 'highly likely.'

The stark warning comes after 30 Britons were killed when Islamist gunman Seifeddine Rezgui massacred tourists on a Sousse beach last month.

And now UK officials say they deem the threat from terrorist groups in the north African state to have 'developed considerably'.

Tour operator Thomas Cook tonight announced it has cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia up until October 31, 2015.

It plans to bring all customers currently in Tunisia back home as soon as possible using third party carriers and 10 scheduled flights over the weekend.

Since the attack in Sousse, Britain has been working closely with the Tunisian authorities to investigate the attack and the wider threat from terrorist groups in Tunisia.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "Although we have had good co-operation from the Tunisian government, including putting in place additional security measures, the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, reinforcing our view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely.

"On balance, we do not believe the mitigation measures in place provide adequate protection for British tourists in Tunisia at the present time and we have therefore changed our travel advice accordingly."

The FCO specifically advised against all travel to the Chaambi Mountain National Park area, the Tunisia-Algeria border crossing points at Ghardimaou, Hazoua and Sakiet Sidi Youssef, the militarised zone south of, but not including, the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba and within 5km of the Libya border area from north of Dhehiba up to but not including the Ras Ajdir border crossing.

The department also advised against all but essential travel to the rest of Tunisia.

"If you’re in Tunisia and you don’t have an essential need to remain you should leave by commercial means.

"Tour operators are arranging additional flights and will be organising departures for their customers.

"If you’re travelling with a tour operator, you should contact your tour operator’s representative in the first instance.

"If you’re travelling independently, you should make your own arrangements to leave. Commercial airlines are operating.

"If you need consular assistance (above and beyond travel information) you should contact the British Embassy in Tunis."

A Thomas Cook spokesman said: "As a result of the change in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice to travel to Tunisia, Thomas Cook can confirm that it has cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia up until 31st October 2015.

"The safety and well-being of our customers is our primary concern. As always, we have been closely following the advice from the FCO and local authorities to monitor the situation in Tunisia.

"In response to the recent change in FCO advice we have taken this decision to bring all Thomas Cook customers back to the UK as soon as we can using third party carriers and on our 10 scheduled flights over the weekend.

"Thomas Cook is strongly advising its guests in the country to return on these flights. We are also sending our Specialist Assistance Teams to Tunisia to offer customers additional support in resort.

"We are committed to doing everything we can to support our guests in Tunisia at this time and will work to bring them back to the UK safely and as soon as possible."