TRADING standards investigators in York are to look into price claims made by a company which is guaranteeing Ascot hospitality tickets to racegoers - even though they don't officially go on sale until October.

Colin Rumford, of the city council's trading standards office, confirmed that officers would look into the deal by Nationwide Events, a Harrogate-based sporting events company that is offering discounted group packages for companies wanting to book for next year's Royal Ascot at York.

Nationwide Events is offering plush private suites for 30 guests at £7,770 and offering executive tables for ten VIPs at £2,590.

A fax sent to northern businesses claims the 30 guest suite "normally" sells for £14,970 with the executive table at £4,990.

The company said demand for the unofficial bookings had been "huge" as businesses snap up space at the eagerly awaited five-day festival, months before Ascot officials put the tickets on the market.

When the Evening Press posed as an interested buyer to inquire about hospitality bookings, we were told we could be "guaranteed" corporate tickets.

An employee said: "I guarantee we can get you tickets - we can put it in black and white. We are guaranteed tickets. We're going to get a certain number and people who are booking now are guaranteed they are going there. We are going to have the tickets, we just don't have them in our hands yet."

The fax offers private suites and executive tables for June 15, 2005, Prince of Wales Stakes Day.

Nationwide Events said the package includes a champagne reception, free bar between 11am and 6.30pm, four-course meal before the Royal procession and expert face-to-face race tips from celebrity ex-jockeys and trainers.

The company said demand for the meeting, one of the highlights of the social calendar, had been "huge".

The employee added: "It's the biggest selling event we've had for three years." She said the fees listed on the fax were "cancellation prices" and the company kept prices down by organising events on a large scale.

Mr Rumford said trading standards had received a complaint which had triggered the investigation.

"We are investigating this company to see whether there is misleading price information in relation to the claims being made (in the fax)," he said.

"If an organisation says something is a bargain it may be in contravention of the consumer protection act."

Ascot bosses today advised anyone looking to purchase hospitality boxes to do so through official racecourse channels.

Nick Smith, Ascot course spokesman, said: "The layout of the racecourse at York and its premier facilities have not yet been agreed.

"We have not sold tickets to any organisations and those who say they have tickets do not. They do not go on sale until October 1 and we would highly recommend that anyone who wants hospitality does it through Ascot racecourse."

But Jim Welsh, chief executive of Nationwide Events, said: "We do not let people down. We know that we will get tickets through our contacts.

"We are contracted to provide corporate hospitality to people who have bought from us and we will continue to do that.

"We are not doing anything differently to what we do at any other major sporting event.

"Perhaps Ascot would prefer to have a monopoly."

He stressed nobody from York trading standards had contacted the company over the complaint. He said the company had experience in corporate hospitality stretching back more than 15 years.

Updated: 08:40 Tuesday, August 17, 2004