A NEWLYWED couple have lost wedding presents worth about £2,000 after the online gift list company used by their guests went into administration.

Steven Parks, 42, and his bride Claire, 34, of King Edward Road, Maidstone, had the wedding of their dreams last month in the historic tunnels of Fort Amherst at Chatham.

But the couple arrived home from their honeymoon in Cuba to discover that The Gift Registry had gone into administration and wedding gifts bought by their guests had not arrived.

Mr Parks said: "We are really disappointed by the whole thing but more for our wedding guests than anything else.

"The flight home from Cuba took 12 hours but it was made bearable by the fact that we had all our presents to open when we got back.

"Nearly £2,000 worth presents guests bought with their hard-earned money have not turned up and my wife and I have had to phone and tell them this. It has tainted a perfect day."

While the couple were on holiday, the company was featured on BBC's Watchdog programme following numerous complaints from customers whose gifts had also never arrives.

Couples who complained to the programme were reimbursed by The Gift Registry at a cost of £300,000 and as a result the company went into administration.

Mr Parks said: "Unfortunately we were on holiday at the time the programme was aired so we had no idea and now we are struggling to get refunds for our guests.

"We have been told that the ones who paid by credit card may have a chance of getting a refund by their card company but we had wedding guests from all over the world so I haven't managed to contact them all yet."

He added: "My wife and I already had a home together but much of my stuff was from my previous marriage so my wife was really looking forward to having new things and a fresh start.

"Most people said it was the best wedding they had ever been to but now this is the thing that they will remember."

An announcement posted on Gift Registry website by Administrators Begbies Traynor saying: 'It is with regret that we announce that as of Friday, October 8 2004, The Gift Registry has been placed into administration.

'Regrettably we will not be able to make any more deliveries.

'If any of your guests have paid for goods we have been unable to deliver, they will need to make a claim against their credit/debit card company.

'Over the next week all list holders will receive a full breakdown of gifts that have been purchased by their guests.'

In a statement Begbies Traynor said: "We are very busy dealing with the case at the moment.

"We deeply regret that The Gift Registry has ceased trading and apologise for the inconvienience caused to customers and, of course, to the entire staff who have lost their jobs.

"We have written to customers explaining how their guests can claim refunds on their credit or debit card on undelivered gift orders."

*Anyone affected or with any questions should call Begbies Traynor on 02086864040.