WILTSHIRE Trading Standards officers are warning people to be wary of schemes that promise years of luxury holidays.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has joined forces with local trading standards departments around the country to publicise dubious practices used by some holiday clubs.

The OFT says many people who join holiday clubs are left thousands of pounds out of pocket, and never experience the luxurious holidays they crave.

Former That's Life presenter Esther Rantzen is spearheading the national campaign that hopes to prevent thousands more unwary travellers from signing up this summer.

Sue Wilkin, senior trading standards support officer with Wiltshire County Council, said: "Don't get sucked into these schemes without doing your homework.

"Every day consumers call us after realising they have signed up to a scheme that will not deliver what it has promised.

"Attending presentations is bad news if you are not fully aware of the problems you may encounter."

A specially produced booklet is available from Wiltshire Trading Standards.