Letter from Europe By Gary Titley, Labour Euro MP for the North-west AS the peak holiday season fast approaches, time-share sharks will be preparing to pounce on unsuspecting tourists.

I have dealt with countless victims of these rip-off merchants, who con people out of thousands of pounds for time-share contracts, which subsequently offer very little in return.

Don't get me wrong. Time-share is basically a good idea, legitimate operators give people the chance to buy a stake in holiday accommodation and, with it, the right to stay there at particular times during the year.

But the time-share sharks flout the industry's code of conduct and exploit legal loop-holes.

Hefty deposits often simply disappear. 'Free holiday' enticements and promises to buy-back previous time-shares prove virtually worthless. And management fees can increase massively, year-on-year.

Holiday Clubs are the latest time-share scam. It costs between £2,000 and £6,000 to guarantee accommodation at a chosen time-share resort. But then consumers must pay extra for each holiday taken, equivalent to or sometimes more than an ordinary tour operator would charge.

So my advice to all local holidaymakers is to be on your guard against the time-share sharks. Don't sign up to anything. And certainly don't part with any cash. If you're genuinely interested, wait until you return home and seek advice from the Time-share Consumers Association at Hodsock, Worksop, Notts. S81 0TF, tel: 01909-591100.

Too much sun and sangria on holiday can give you a headache. But a brush with the time-share sharks can leave you with a massive financial hangover for years to come.