Thomas Cook green plaque unveiled at Loughborough railway station

The plaque commemorates Thomas Cook's connection to Loughborough railway station

Thomas Cook - pioneer of the package tour - has been honoured with a green plaque at Loughborough railway station.

In 1841, Cook hired a train to take people from Leicester to Loughborough for a temperance rally and in doing so, created his first package excursion.

The plaque to commemorate Cook's historic connection to the station was unveiled on Tuesday.

Leicestershire County Council chairman Kevin Feltham said he had "real vision" and "transformed the travel industry".

"I hope the many passengers who pass through Loughborough station might pause at this plaque and remember a local man who literally changed how we travel and see the world," the chairman added.

Thomas Cook founded his firm in Market Harborough in 1841 after this first railway excursion

On the first excursion from Leicester to Loughborough, Cook, who was born in Melbourne, Derbyshire in 1808, sold nearly 500 tickets for the return trip at a shilling a piece - with tea and buns included.

His trips became more ambitious, including organising visits for people from Yorkshire and the Midlands to London to visit the Great Exhibition of 1851.

He went on to arrange many more package excursions and holidays to the increasing numbers of English seaside resorts and spas, and later expanded to Europe and America.

In 1872, by then a household name, Cook organised his first round-the-world trip.

'Proud history'

He died in 1892 and is buried in the Welford Road Cemetery in Leicester.

Joe Hoy, who works at Loughborough station, said: "It's important to recognise the historic connection the station has with Thomas Cook and the impact he had with the railways, tourism in general and the local communities.

"It's in a great, eye-catching location for our customers to see. It acknowledges the long, proud history of the station and will bear witness to its future."