TWO women caught in France with nearly 1,000 bottles of wine had their booze confiscated by customs officials - along with their van.

Jean Sherry and Alison Burton had been on a 'girlie weekend' when they were stopped by British officials in Calais.

A search of their Mercedes van turned up 794 litres of the pair's favourite Raphael Louie red wine - in 75cl bottles.

The women claimed they had been doing six-monthly booze cruises since 2004, and the wine was for a joint party they planned for their mothers. But Customs rejected their pleas - and while they have since returned the van, refused to release the alcohol.

Mrs Sherry and Ms Burton eventually made their way home on the Eurostar at 5am. The women say they lost £500 on the confiscated wine.

No regrets

Mrs Sherry, of St James Road in Orrell, took HM Customs and Excise to a tax tribunal in Manchester claiming she had been unfairly treated. And - despite losing her case this week - Mrs Sherry said she had no regrets.

"I may not have won but I've had my say and haven't been deterred from going to France to get my favourite wine, although I keep to the guide levels now," she told the M.E.N.

British visitors to France can bring back wine without paying UK taxes only if it is for personal consumption. There is no strict legal limit - but guidelines suggest a maximum of 120 bottles per person. Anyone caught with more than that amount can expect to be asked for proof the wine is for personal use.

Mrs Sherry and Ms Burton, from St Helens, were stopped at La Coquelles in Calais in March last year.

The pair told officials the wine they had brought back was only available in France and was handed out as gifts to friends, family and local charities. They said they had needed to make another trip four months after their previous visit after almost finishing the last consignment of more than 1,500 bottles. Mrs Sherry's legal appeal was dismissed at the tribunal.

Judge Porter said the reviewing officer had acted reasonably in refusing to return the wine to Mrs Sherry.

He added: "No satisfactory answer has been supplied either by the appellant [Mrs Sherry] or Ms Burton as to how all the wine was to be disposed of.

"It is not credible that two families have consumed 1,560 bottles of wine over a period of four months."