A North-East MP who campaigned for tighter laws on rogue holiday companies has welcomed a Government crackdown on the firms.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones launched a parliamentary debate on holiday clubs after several of his constituents paid out thousands of pounds for holidays that never materialised.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has taken up the issue and has launched a publicity campaign warning consumers about the dangers of signing up.

Mr Jones said: "For most of us, the purchase of a foreign holiday is our largest annual financial outlay, for which we preserve precious savings.

"While some holiday club operators are reputable businesses, fraudsters have used the vehicle to bypass consumer protection legislation and catch unsuspecting, hardworking people, who have lost thousands of pounds or received little in return for their money."

Holiday clubs are marketed as a flexible alternative to timeshare, promising a lifetime of discounted luxury breaks, anywhere in the world.

They are not covered by timeshare laws, so there are no automatic cancellation rights for customers who change their minds.

More information on the campaign is available from the OFT website, www.oft.gov.uk