Holidaymakers are being warned to watch out for touts trying to sell them fake scratch cards.

West Sussex County Council Trading Standards service will be talking to people at Gatwick Airport on Monday that the prize could turn out to be a trip to a lengthy sales presentation and a chance to pay thousands of pounds for membership to a bogus holiday club.

Two Trading Standards officers will be handing out warning scratch cards produced by the Office of Fair Trading and reminding travellers about new time share legislation that will harmonise the law across Europe and close a number of loopholes.

The new rules will give consumers a 14 day cooling off period that allows them to cancel without a penalty. They apply to holiday clubs, time share resale and timeshare-like products.

For more information call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/holidayclubs.