Hoover faces flight fiasco bill

Hoover could face a bill for hundreds of thousands of pounds after a judge awarded damages to customers who lost out in the free flights fiasco.

The judge ruled that the company abused a get-out clause when they refused to issue tickets to America in the 1994 sales promotion disaster.

He awarded compensation of pounds 461 to Peter Lucas, of Sutton Coldfield, and pounds 466 to Norman Magowan, of Belfast.

Their county court actions are viewed as a test case for others who missed out when Hoover invoked a clause stating: "One application per household".

The firm said separate applications from relatives at the same address invalidated all these claims.

Civil servant Mr Magowan, 46, said last night: "I am delighted that I have proved my point and Hoover have been shown the error of their ways."

A total of 20 different test cases will not be concluded until June. Hoover was unavailable for comment.