Cornwall Council has issued an urgent appeal to customers of a local private hire taxi firm, after discovering that they are operating without the appropriate licenses.

The council says that Cornwall Flight Connections are acting illegally by trading without having the licences in place.

Bob Mears, from Cornwall Council’s Licensing Compliance service, said “We are concerned that there may now be customers who will not receive a service that they believe that they have booked for and may miss their flights, equally, there may be consumers who are currently away on holiday, who are expecting to be collected upon their return to the UK to be taxied back to Cornwall, who may now be left stranded at their airport or ferry terminal.”

Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards say they have been investigating the activities of the Cornwall based business, which is operating as a private hire taxi company, conducting travel between Cornwall and a variety of transit hubs, mostly airports and cruise terminals across the UK.

Adding: "This business is unlicensed and, should not, therefore, be carrying out any passenger carriage services for hire or reward."

Cornwall Flight Connections may also be known as Flight Connections or Chy Meor Flight Connections.

When contacted by thepacket.co.uk, a spokesman for the company said that they strongly disputed the allegations.

Customers who feel that they may have been affected are advised to seek an alternative mode of transport to and from their holiday point of departure from the UK, and to claim any losses against their travel insurance policy.

They may also wish to seek legal advice from Citizens Advice Consumer Services on 08454 04 05 06.