SHOPPERS are fuming after being told they cannot spend their gift vouchers at a Huddersfield store.

Customers of troubled department store Peters have been told their vouchers - including many bought for Christmas - are no longer being accepted after the store was forced to call in insolvency experts.

Control of the store passed to administration company Kroll earlier this month.

A West Yorkshire Trading Standards spokesman said: "As the Peters store has gone into administration it is no longer responsible for honouring the gift vouchers.

"The administrators have no legal obligation to honour the vouchers and any new buyer also does not have a legal responsibility to do so, although they may choose to make a gesture of goodwill."

Staff are passing all complaints directly to the administrators.

But customers say they are disappointed.

Elaine Bialkowska, from Bradley, went to spend £25 worth of gift vouchers she had received as a Christmas present.

"I was told that vouchers were no longer being accepted and I was passed on to the administrators who coldly informed me that nothing could be done," she said. "I am appalled and hurt at the way I have been treated. I have been a loyal Peters customer for years.

"What I want to know is if the company knew it was in trouble, why did it continue to offer vouchers when there was a big question mark as to whether they could be honoured?"

Elaine Noble, from Holmfirth, was also frustrated after being told she could not spend the £60 she had been given as a birthday present.

"It ruined my day and my sons were upset that their birthday gift to me was useless," she said.

Elaine's son has been told by his credit card company he may be able to claim the money back - but this does not help customers who have paid for their vouchers in cash.

Staff say no more vouchers will be sold until the future of the store is sorted out.

A spokesman for the administrators said their duty was to the creditors as a whole and advised people to register their claim.