YORK trading watchdogs today urged a holiday club's customers to be cautious before they accept an offer by Global Discovery Club (Scotland) Ltd to "service" their vacations.

The Scottish club stepped in recently to help out members of the English Global Discovery Club after it ceased operating.

It said the English club was a totally different entity, and it was aiming to help members who were willing to book according to its Scottish members' booking arrangements.

Now Colin Rumford, head of City of York Council's trading standards department, has issued a cautionary warning to English members considering taking up the offer.

He said: "There is no liability on the Scottish club to make the offer they are making. People may have their hopes raised, only for another set of circumstances to arise. They may be asked for a fee to transfer from one club to the other.

"I would advise people to be circumspect about what they are entering into, and exercise caution, before making any decision."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish club said: "For the last three weeks our staff have been willingly giving up their time off in preparation of servicing English Club members' holidays. I regard it as very offensive that Trading Standards should issue a cautionary warning to English members considering taking up our offer.

"If York Trading Standards feel they can offer a better alternative, we suggest that the members should not hesitate to take up their offer."