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Probe launched after Heathrow parking firm leaves car in public car park

Almost 300 cars left with Heathrow parking firms were left in a council car park and issued with parking tickets.

A total of 275 vehicles were left over the Easter weekend in West Drayton, about 15 minutes from the airport, the BBC reported.

Both Hillingdon Council and Heathrow have begun an investigation.

One woman said she was “horrified” to find her vehicle was left in a public car park after she spent more than £100 for it to be left in a secure facility.

Companies offering meet and greet services meet customers at the airport then take their vehicle to a secure parking facility, and return it when the owner gets back from their trip.

When the BBC visited the council car park, some cars had up to five parking tickets on their windscreens.

Many also had Heathrow “short stay” parking vouchers inside them, which is the area where meet and greet firms pick up their customers’ cars.

Hillingdon Council said it was “aware of reports that some vehicles were parked in the car parks” which had not been left by the vehicle owners.

“Our trading standards team has launched an investigation and will be contacting the people who have received the parking tickets in due course,” they said.

A Heathrow spokesman said the airport was working with “police and the local community to investigate this matter further”.

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