Gatwick airport is warning Christmas travellers to be careful of rogue car parking companies.

The airport has noticed a 250% rise in complaints about unscrupulous meet and greet firms this year.

Some customers have noticed when they get back to their cars at the end of a holiday their vehicles have been used, with missing petrol, rubbish across the floors, radios and seat positions changed and more.

Oliver Bedford is the director of parking at the airport, and he says although these companies have Gatwick in their name, they have no relationship with the operators.

His advice is customers should look for accreditation from bodies such as the British Parking Association or Trading Standards.