A businessman flew home to find the car he had left with an airport parking company had been hired out for a wedding.

He was shocked to discover confetti strewn on the back seat of his Mercedes.

The victim, who asked not to be named, was among dozens of people who left their cars in the safekeeping of a company called Pink Meet and Greet.

On their return they were shocked to discover the vehicles had been raced at 100mph and left in alleyways, a builder's yard and a shop car park.

Trading standards officers and police have been called in to investigate the scam, which involved the firm promising to park customers' cars in a secure compound with 24-hour security patrols and high fences.

Instead, vehicles worth tens of thousands of pounds were driven at speed and abandoned in insecure locations.

The scam was exposed by the BBC's consumer programme Watchdog and the company, based in Surrey, ceased trading last Thursday, with several vehicles still missing.

Police worked with Gatwick, NCP, and the owner of the company to trace the cars. NCP spokesman Tim Cowen said they were still trying to track down an Alfa Romeo.

A black Ford Escort was found parked in a builder's yard with an extra 364 miles on the clock and an empty tank of petrol.

Mr Cowen said: "We had not been able to relocate these two vehicles because we had no information relating to them. The Escort was eventually found but the Alfa Romeo is still missing.

"Then we found the black Mercedes, full of confetti, thought to have been hired out for a wedding.

"The businessman who owns it said there was certainly no confetti in it when he left it, so he's somewhat bemused."

The company's director, 34-year-old Steven Kittle, of Molesham Way, West Moseley, Surrey, blamed irresponsible staff for the state of the vehicles.

Most of the cars were eventually found in a builder's yard in Horsham.

Two were in Somerfield's car park in Crawley and another was parked behind a pub.

Brian Stone, head of consumer services for West Sussex County Council, said trading standards had been working closely with the airport managers, the police and NCP to find the vehicles.

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 6070999.