Hoover loses free flights case

The electrical firm Hoover has lost the first round of a test case over its "free flights" offer. Thousands of families who made multiple applications have been told by Hoover their coupons were invalid. But Judge Bennet at St Helens County Court, Merseyside, ruled Hoover had acted in breach of contract in disallowing all the claims.

The case was brought by two customers who had bought vacuum cleaners in 1994, and were told by Hoover their claim for free flights was invalid under its 'one application per household' rule.