drivers and car dealers across the region have been left to deal with the aftermath of an alleged finance scam believed to be worth £2m.

The man at the centre of police inquiries into the business deals has vanished from his home in the North-East and has not been seen by neighbours since late last year.

It is thought that Brian Metcalfe, 56, who police want to talk to, fled his County Durham home when his wife, Olive, was away on holiday.

The deals left hundreds of unsuspecting buyers and traders having paid out thousands of pounds for top of the range cars, such as Jaguars and Mercedes. But Mr Metcalfe, is alleged to have bought the vehicles with hire purchase finance agreements and sold them on for cash - without having paying the balance owed to the lenders.

Now the finance firms whose agreements have not been honoured could add further misery by repossessing the victims' cars.

Car dealerships and garages are helping police with inquiries, led by West Midlands officers. The investigation includes police from County Durham, Tyneside, Scotland and London. A constable from the West Midlands has been suspended in connection with the inquiry.

Mr Metcalfe is thought to have built up his business, BM Executive Travel, over more than a decade.

Victims of the dealings are believed to have included police officers and barristers.

When The Northern Echo called at Hillberry, the house in Mainsforth Road, Ferryhill, from which Mr Metcalfe ran the business, it was empty, having been stripped down to the carpets. There were "for sale" signs outside and neighbours declined to comment.

Mrs Metcalfe is not believed to be involved in any of her husband's dealings, or know of his whereabouts.