A COMPANY which organised an Oxford wedding fair is being investigated by trading standards.

Freeform Events booked Oxford Town Hall for the event on Sunday, August 26, but Oxford City Council says it did not receive the £371 deposit required.

One county photographer, who did not want to be named, said he had put a £100 deposit down to hold a stall but claimed he heard nothing else from the Dorset firm.

Ivan Hancock, trading standards service manager at Dorset County Council, said allegations against Freeform Events Limited and linked businesses were being investigated.

He said: “The complaints being investigated relate to the cancellation of certain events after bookings have been made, and money taken, from businesses seeking to attend the events.

“Our primary focus is to examine if the events have been marketed in a misleading manner and to understand the reasons why cancellations have occurred and businesses let down.”

Oxford City Council spokesman Annette Cunningham said the firm booked the venue in April but never paid the deposit so the booking was cancelled last month.

She said: “Whilst waiting for the agreed room deposit of £371 to arrive we were contacted by someone who had booked a stall at the wedding fair who was unable to contact them.

“When we found that we were also unable to contact the organisers from the contact information we had and the time frame given for the deposit payment had expired, we immediately removed the booking.“ Thames Valley Police and Dorset Police said they had not had any complaints about the firm.

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