A HOLIDAY firm which conned scores of North Yorkshire customers has been wound up after an investigation.

Bournemouth-based Holidays Direct Travel Ltd was investigated by trading standards officers after complaints that it failed to deliver promised luxury breaks.

Trading as Holidays Direct Promotions and Holidays Direct, the company sent letters telling people they had won a luxury break which they could claim by sending a fee to an address in Dorset.

Trading standards in Dorset alone received more than 5,000 calls from concerned customers.

The company was wound up in the High Court in London yesterday after it heard an estimated £3.5 million was sent, and only 25 to 30 people have received holidays from 65,000 respondents nationwide.

Melanie Johnson, the Government's minister for competition, consumers and markets, said: "This judgement will be some comfort to the many people who have lost money to know that this firm has been put out of business once and for all."

But Brian Mycock, a trading standards officer, said: "Those people who have paid money or possibly been offered a holiday are those who stand to lose the most.

"They will become unsecured creditors. They are at the bottom of the pile."

Updated: 11:15 Thursday, October 25, 2001