WINNERS of a grand prize draw have started receiving details of their "free" holidays and how much more they need to fork out to enjoy them.

The Evening Press reported last week how dozens of people were still waiting for sunshine holidays they had won in a draw organised by UK Consumer Competitions.

York trading standards officers said about 50 people had complained that they had paid a "processing fee" to receive their holiday, sponsored by Holidays Direct, but had not yet enjoyed their vacation in the sun.

An Evening Press reader from Seaton Ross said she had paid a £59 processing fee earlier in the summer but was still waiting.

Now she has received a form in the post from Holidays Direct, saying the firm was happy to offer her and her husband a seven-night self-catering holiday at an apartment in Portugal.

It said she would be flying from London Gatwick to Faro on October 17.

But it did not give details of the return flight. However, a list of "supplementary charges" was given, including a £70 airport surcharge, £79.90 for insurance and £40 for an airport transfer to the resort if needed, with cheques payable to another organisation.

The form said that if the reader wanted to take advantage of the holiday, she needed to ring the booking office to confirm her acceptance and then complete and return the form together with payment due, by recorded delivery to the firm's address in Bournemouth within 36 hours.

"Once we have confirmed payment, your travel documents, tickets/itinerary will then be issued. We look forward to arranging your perfect holiday. IMPORTANT -contact us immediately if you do NOT wish to take the holiday offered."

But the reader, who does not wish to be identified, said she had repeatedly tried to ring the number but found it permanently engaged.

Another woman, Wendy Hook, from Acomb, said she had received a form offering a holiday at the same apartments - even though she had stopped her cheque for £59 after having second thoughts about the prize.

She said she could not now decide whether to accept the offer if it meant having to pay out some money.

York trading standards manager Liz Levett said she was investigating the offer.

In the meantime, her advice to people receiving the latest form was that - if they wanted to risk spending any more money - they should call the booking office and, if they could get through, seek evidence that the holiday and flight being offered did exist. People should be very wary, she added.

*The Evening Press attempted to call the Holidays Direct booking office more than 30 times but it was engaged every time.

*Have you enjoyed a free holiday courtesy of UK Consumer Promotions/Holidays Direct? If you have, please contact Mike Laycock on 01904 567132, or e-mail him on mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk.

Updated: 09:02 Wednesday, August 15, 2001