Holidaymakers returning to Gatwick Airport were left stranded after being unable to locate their cars after using a meet and greet service.

Lauren James from Worcestershire booked with iPark at Gatwick while away in France, but returned to find she and other passengers were left stranded trying to find their cars.

They tracked some vehicles to a site outside the airport and along with the police.

James recounted how there was a car with about four men and a boot was open and there was just a boot-full of car keys in individual plastic wallets.

Some vehicles were dirty, items had been taken, or some left in a short-stay car park with owners facing bills of hundreds of pounds.

Oli Bedford, head of car parks at London Gatwick said: “We are aware of rogue third-party parking companies purporting to offer valet or meet-and-greet services operating at a number of airports.

They added that the airport is closely working with the police, trading standards and the British Parking Association to address the issue.