A travel firm in Kent is being investigated by police for theft from a charity after they failed to provide flight tickets to New Zealand that had been paid for by the charity.

Pilgrim Bandits, a charity for injured veterans had bought tickets from Black Tip Travel of Tonbridge for 22 injured servicemen participating in a fundraising cycle ride in October. However, two days before they were due to fly out Black Tip Travel told the charity that no flights were booked due to “simple errors” and a “mix-up” with Emirates airline.

A statement on Black Tip Travel’s website placed by the company’s sole director, Dale Whitney, advises that the company has some “issues” and is “currently getting insolvency advice”.