FAMILIES who were affected when Farepak collapsed are being urged to sign a petition – just weeks before the directors appear in court.

Around 120,000 customers lost out when the Christmas hamper company failed nearly six years ago. The online petition, which has been created by the Farepak Victims Committee, calls for the people responsible for the collapse to be held to account.

Anne Snelgrove, who was Labour MP for Swindon South at the time the firm went under, is calling for as many people as possible to sign the petition.

“The petition is asking for compensation for the people who lost their money through Farepak and for the directors to be brought to justice,” she said.

“In about a month’s time the directors are going to be in court but it has taken far too long.

“People lost such a lot of money, we don’t think they should be allowed to be directors of any other company.”

Farepak allowed low-income families to save for Christmas hampers, but it went into administration in 2006. Customers lost an average of £400 each.

Lawyers and accountants handling the winding up of the company have been paid £8.2m – but raised only £5.5m for victims.

According to Companies House, two of the nine Farepak directors have been banned from being directors again for the next few years.

Next month, the other seven directors will be in court over a Government-backed move to disqualify them as directors.

The online petition, which has been signed by 945 people so far, calls on the Government to bring the people responsible for the collapse of Farepak to account.

It also calls for full compensation for the victims and for the Government to put financial regulations in place to make sure it never happens again.

For more information or to sign the petition, visit http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/18820.