POLICE and councillors have been alerted following the sudden closure of a travel agent with dozens of customers claiming to be owed money or tickets.

Khurram Travel, in Queens Park Road in Audley Range, Blackburn, did not open last week and its owner Iqbal Mehmood, who lives across the road, has not been contactable since.

The six councillors in Queen’s Park and Audley wards said they have received dozens of calls from concerned residents. They have contacted Blackburn with Darwen borough’s public protection and trading standards unit. A police spokesman said the force had been contacted by a Blackburn woman claiming to have paid £3,000 to the firm for airline tickets and referred her in the first instance to the national Action Fraud team.

Among the dozens of people affected, mainly from Blackburn’s South Asian community, are people booking family holidays to India and Pakistan, those sending money to relatives on the sub-continent and some booking pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.

Audley councillor Salim Sidat said dozens of people had contacted the six councillors in the two wards, with more than 25 getting in touch with him.

Cllr Salim Mulla, former chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said dozens of people had been in touch.

He said: “I have tried to contact Mr Mehmood and failed. I have spoken to the landlord of the shop and of the house he rented opposite.

“They have not seen him for days and are both looking for him.

“Mr Mehmood needs to come back and take responsibility.”

The travel agent has not replied to messages via email or telephone.

However, the Lancashire Telegraph has seen no evidence than an offence has been committed.

Khurram Travel has no mention on its website of the travel protection schemes with Abta or Atol.

Zanab Nadat, who has contacted the police, said: “We wanted to save for the Umrah trip.

“He told me to pay £3,000 now as a deposit. The total amount was meant to be £4,900.

“He was insistent that I pay this money to ensure my places were booked.

“I have been trying to get hold of him for more than a week.”

Mohammed Nawaz said he handed over £1,935 which he asked to be sent to Pakistan through money transfer.

Mr Nawaz said: “The money was for a knee operation for my mum.

“I also gave him £2,700 for flight tickets two weeks earlier.

“I then phoned on Friday and was told he had gone to London. By Saturday there was no contact.

“Then on Monday the shutters were down and his house was empty too.”

Amir Zulfiqar, 24, of Audley, who worked at the travel agency, said: “I came into work normally on the Friday and kept the shop open.

“People started coming in and were quite abusive.

“Five to six people turned up at once who said they had been told by Mr Mehmood to come and take their money.

“We tried to contact Mr Mehmood but there was no reply and his phone was switched off.”

Mohammed Hussain, of Queen’s Park, said: “My mother, brother, his wife and their children aged two and six months flew to Kashmir in Pakistan with Khurram Travel and were told to collect their extra tickets from an agent there.

“There are no tickets and they are stranded.

“I have contacted the police in Blackburn and they will contact the British Consul in Pakistan over the weekend.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: “We were contacted on November 3 by a woman who said she had approximately three weeks before booked and paid £3,000 to Khurram Travel in Blackburn.

“She had subsequently tried to contact the travel agent without success.

“The informant was advised to contact Action Fraud.”

Cllr Mulla said: “I have spoken to 13 people including one who had saved up for his pilgrimage for the family.

“He broke down in tears in front of me.

“The relevant authorities need to investigate this urgently.”

Audley councillor Yusuf Jan Virmani, boss of the borough public protection service, said: “My officers and I are aware of this case.

“I would advise anyone affected to contact the Citizen’s Advice consumer service who will advise them.

“We would urge anyone making travel and accommodation arrangements to make sure your booking is Abta and Atol protected.”

Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said: “I am very concerned that many people could be seriously out of pocket as a result of this closure.

“I hope this issue can be resolved and any constituent affected can contact my office and I will raise their case with the relevant authorities.”