A couple planning a romantic break to Paris were left dumbfounded when a travel agency mistakenly told them Eurostar would not be running the service from Ashford from the end of May.

Frank Webb from Kennington, Ashford, went to Thomson in the town’s high street to book a weekend away in the French capital for him and his wife, but was surprised to be told he could not travel from Ashford International Station on his preferred dates.

“They informed us that from the end of May the trains will no longer be going from Ashford,” he said.

“They will only be going to Disneyland. All the Paris trains will be going from Ebbsfleet.”

The bemused couple booked their trip for mid-May so they could still use the Ashford station, but it later transpired there had been a major mix up.

A member of staff at Thomson in Ashford confirmed they had been told by their supplier, Thomson Cities, that Eurostar were stopping services from Ashford to Paris. Employees at the Thomson Cities call centre said they had been told the same thing, but were confused about when things came into effect.

But Thomson’s parent company, TUI UK Ltd, has since confirmed there had been a mix up on its part following the opening of Ebbsfleet International.

A spokesman said: “There was a misunderstanding about where the trains would be running from since Ebbsfleet station opened, but it has now been clarified.

“Trains are still running from Ashford to Paris, there are fewer each day.

“We will be getting in touch with the local branch to apologize about the mix up.

“We are very sorry to have caused confusion.”

Eurostar cut the number of daily trains running from Ashford to Paris from six to three in late 2006, and cut all direct services to Brussels, and relocated them to Ebbsfleet international when it opened last year.

Gareth Headon, spokesman for Eurostar, said: “It absolutely remains the case that three services a day are still in place and will be for the foreseeable future.”

He confirmed that a review of all Eurostar services from Ashford and Ebbsfleet was due to take place in late spring but said there was no plan to change the Paris service.