A COUPLE who had their car seized by HM Customs over accusations of tobacco smuggling are fighting to have the vehicle returned.

Harriet and Mark Mills, from Preston, had their £12,000 Volvo S60, which they had owned for less than a year, confiscated by Customs officers when Mr Mills returned from a trip to Belgium with tobacco he claimed was for personal use.

Mr Mills and his friend Robert Kerry were returning via the Channel Tunnel 15 months ago when Customs searched the car belonging to Mrs Mills, and discovered 43.5kg of rolling tobacco.

Mrs Mills said: "They stopped them and interviewed them, then seized the goods and the car and threw them on a train to London.

"There was no way they were smuggling. One could argue the total was a large amount, but it was going to be split between two couples."

Changes to the Government's policy in March last year saw Customs relax the hard-line treatment of suspected smugglers after pressure from the European Commission.

The changes came too late for Mr and Mrs Mills, whose car was seized last January.

They went to a tribunal in November that said Customs should return the car, but there has been no response and they are now waiting on the outcome of an appeal.

Mrs Mills said: "Customs said as far as they are concerned they were smuggling and they're refusing to budge.

"We just want our car back - it's just sitting in Folkestone in perfect condition. We bought it on hire purchase and we're still paying for it - £224 goes out of our bank each month and we don't have the vehicle."

South West Conservative MEP Neil Parish has written to Customs on behalf of the couple and has criticised the Government's handling of similar cases.

Ten other victims who have had their cars seized by Customs have this month submitted petitions to the European Parliament in what has been dubbed the 'booze cruise' issue.

The European Parliament group that looked at the petition proposed a letter to the European Commission, calling them to exert pressure on the Government to offer compensation.

Mr Parish said: "The Government has treated these perfectly innocent people like criminals and they deserve to be compensated.

"While the Government has taken a slightly less aggressive approach to people exercising their rights to bring goods back for personal consumption, their behaviour up to last year was appalling and needs to be redressed."

Acting regional press officer for Revenue & Customs Stephen Hazell said: "Any alcohol or tobacco you bring in must be for your own use and transported by you.

"We have guidelines for travellers. People are particularly likely to be asked questions by Revenue & Customs officers if, when travelling from the EU, they have more than 3kg of tobacco.

"If we are satisfied that the goods are for a commercial purpose we may seize them and any vehicle used to transport them, and may not return them."