YORK holiday company Global Vacations has suddenly closed down its York offices, as more angry customers told how their dreams of a lifetime of cheap luxury holidays have been shattered.

News of the closure came as fraud squad detectives revealed that they intend to look into the firm's affairs to see if a full police investigation is justified.

The Evening Press reported last month how Lynda and David Cook paid Global Vacations £3,200 to enjoy a lifetime of luxurious but cheap holidays abroad after attending a presentation at the firm's offices in Barleycorn Yard, off Walmgate. But they never even received their "Global Discovery Club" membership pack. Now an Escrick couple say they paid the firm a £500 deposit but have still received no benefits whatsoever and want their money back.

And a Haxby couple say they paid the firm £4,500 in June and are desperately trying to get their money back.

Andrew and Sue Craven, of Escrick, said they attended the presentation evening at Barleycorn Yard, off Walmgate, after being told they had won a free holiday. They paid the deposit and were later asked for another £2,000, but they were suspicious by then and refused. They now plan to complain to trading standards officers and police.

The Haxby couple, who do not wish to be identified, said they were promised unlimited holidays in five-star hotels and apartments for only £50 per head, plus the cost of flights. "It sounded too good to be true and I was sceptical," said the husband. But they were eventually persuaded they were getting an excellent deal. "It was a very slick presentation."

But when they eventually tried to book a skiing holiday, the total bill faxed to them earlier this week came to £352 per person for a week - more than the same holiday would cost in Thomson's brochure.

Eddie Vee, otherwise known as York's Elvis impersonator, worked as a salesman for Global Vacations. He said last night the York offices were closed down on Thursday evening, with files and equipment removed. He claimed he and other staff were owed hundreds of pounds in wages.

Det Sergeant Kevin Ross, of North Yorkshire fraud squad, said a file of complaints had been passed on to him by trading standards officers and officers would conduct inquiries to see whether there was justification for a full police investigation.

A York trading standards spokesman confirmed a number of complaints and inquiries had been received, and the matter was being pursued.

When the Evening Press tried to contact Global Vacations' head office in Manchester, a recorded message said that due to "unforeseen circumstances" the office was closed. Efforts to contact the York office manager, GA Khan, were also unsuccessful.

lHave you experienced problems with Global Vacations? Contact Mike Laycock on 01904 567132, or send e-mail to mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk. Confidentiality guaranteed if requested.

Picture: Andrew and Sue Craven paid a deposit but were then asked for a further £2,000