TRADING Standards has warned people not to respond to flyers which offer a free holiday after a retired man complained he had spent £88.50 in vain.

John Wilson, 66, of Hareclough Close, Blackburn, received an offer through the post from Holidays Direct in April but has claimed he has still to receive any details of his break.

And Jim Potts, chief trading standards officer at Lancashire County Council, said they were tracking Holidays Direct but that it appeared they kept moving around the country.

He reiterated a warning made in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about Holidays Direct in July and said that people should be wary of companies which offer little opportunity for customer contact.

He added that any organisation which a customer knew little about should be avoided.

Mr Wilson, a retired funeral director, said received an offer through the post, saying he had won a competition and he would get free accommodation in Spain, although he would have to pay for the flights and insurance. He said he posted a cheque for £88.50 on April 5 covering administration of a holiday for six people. He said this was cashed on April 11, after which time Holidays Direct were supposed to send a booking form within 14 days.

He said this was not received until nine weeks and four days later, after he had sent numerous letters to find out why.

He was advised by Trading Standards and a solicitor to send a registered letter requesting his money back for breach of contract. He said he had now sent two registered letters -- the last on June 14 -- but had not received a reply.

Mr Wilson said: "I could take them to a county court but I would have problems getting in touch with them. Also I cannot get my solicitors fees back. I could end up with a bill for £500 and still not get the money back.

"I think I will have got to let it go. To anybody thinking of taking up this offer I would say forget it. "

Mr Potts, chief trading standards officer, said a company had started a similar scheme in Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the past week.

"We are not sure whether this is the same people who are changing their names," he said.

"It seems Holidays Direct have sent a massive amount of mail out in Lancashire and people are still receiving offers.

"Unless you know the companies don't be tempted. Don't send money to organisations which promise a holiday in the future.

"This type of company seems to be designed to avoid contact with customers and the companies come and go with increasing regularity.

"There are a lot of pitfalls landing through people's letter boxes these days.

"Those responsible are getting harder and harder to track down because they use mail re-routing."

A spokesman for Holidays Direct said they were unable to comment because the manager was only available on Fridays.

She said that correspondence would have to be sent through the post to Incentive Marketing in Buxton.