A war veteran who spent a year saving money to get to a reunion was left more than a thousand pounds out-of-pocket by the travel firm he used.

Malcolm Rowland, who uses a wheel-chair, paid £777 to All Destinations Ltd for a return chauffeur-driven car to Wales, but the company was already going bust.

After waiting three hours the 83-year-old realised the car would not be picking him up from his home in Barnfield Road, Ealing.

The former Royal Navy officer, who intercepted German messages during the Second World War, was left frustrated, disappointed and forced to pay an extra £550 to attend the reunion.

Mr Rowland said: "I got all dressed up and was waiting by the front door and when the car didn't come, I didn't know what to do.

"We tried calling, but the telephones didn't work, and when we called Saga, which advertised the company, we were passed from person to person.

"I was tired and frustrated from all the waiting as I had been planning to go since last year.

"We were finally told the company had gone into liquidation and Saga, a company I trusted, seemed to have washed their hands of the situation and said it was nothing to do with them.

"I had to use another cab and that cost £550, money which I could have used to make improvements to my home."

After attending the annual reunion in The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel in Wales, Mr Rowland sought legal advice from William Sturges and Co Solicitors to reclaim the money.

But after the Gazette stepped in to highlight his plight, Saga offered to pay £550 to Mr Rowland as a goodwill gesture.

A spokeswoman from Saga said: "The booking was made direct with All Destinations and Saga did not have access to the contact details of those customers, and equally we do not have any legal liability for the contract between the individual and All Destinations.

"We appreciate Mr Rowland was waiting to depart and had to make immediate alternative travel arrangements in order to reach his destination on time.

"As the original booking was made via an advert on our website we would have done all that we could to assist him with booking alternative arrangements.

"However, this was not an option at such short notice.

"As a gesture of goodwill Saga has offered to recompense Mr Rowland the cost of the alternative travel arrangements he was forced to make."