Detectives and Trading Standards officials have launched investigations into claims of theft and fraud at Gatwick.

Police are looking into allegations that baggage worth £1 million is being stolen every day by people working at the airport.

Meanwhile, West Sussex County Council is investigating claims that valet parking firms are charging for secure parking but leaving the cars in residential streets.

On Monday a 35-year-old airport worker was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

He has been suspended from his job and his identity card allowing access to restricted areas has been taken away.

A former baggage handler has reported looting on a massive scale and says his colleagues once stole 30,000 cigarettes from passengers' luggage during a single shift.

He told The Daily Star: "They'll be having a field day due to the new security rules ordering passengers to put their valuables in their cases instead of hand luggage.

"That gives them rich pickings. Baggage handlers work in teams and get to trust one another.

"I could not believe the scale of the theft.

"Much of it goes unreported to the police because passengers shouldn't be carrying the stuff in the first place."

According to Sussex Police there were 195 reported thefts from luggage between Wednesday, August 9, and Tuesday, August 22, compared with 54 reports during the same twoweek period last year.

Chief Superintendent Dave Martin said: "While the numbers of thefts are small compared to the volume of luggage which moves through Gatwick, we are concerned about the increases. We are fully investigating these matters in conjunction with the handling agents and BAA."

Police have also received complaints from people in towns and villages near the airport who are sick of their parking spaces being taken up by cars belonging to people on holiday.

Residents say drivers are dropping cars off and being picked up in vans bearing valet parking company logos.

Sussex Police says technically the parking firms are not breaking the law by parking cars on the street but officers have been passing information to Trading Standards teams.

Motorists whose cars are parked on the street risk invalidating their insurance if the vehicles are stolen.

The investigation involves one company from West Sussex, which is not being named, and two in Surrey being investigated by Surrey County Council. Both councils suspect more firms could be involved.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070 999.