MORE than a year ago, a Newport Farepak agent had the devastating task of telling family and friends they would not receive their Christmas hampers.

Since then, Debbie Harvey has continued to campaign for justice for more than 113,000 customers across the UK who were left out of pocket by £39 million when Farepak went bust in October 2006.

She recalled the difficulty of breaking the news to customers last year.

"I never want to go through that again. It was an absolute nightmare."

Earlier this year, they discovered they would only get about five pence compensation for every pound they lost.

Although it was a small amount, they were hoping to receive the money before this Christmas but Mrs Harvey said she had discovered they could be waiting for another at least 12 to 18 months.

Now she has launched a petition asking the House of Commons to urge the Prime Minister to speed up the process of paying back the money.

She has also set up an on-line petition calling for the boss of Farepak, Sir Clive Thompson, to be stripped of his title.

"My customers lost £1,800 and realistically that's want they wanted back," said Mrs Harvey, who lives with her family in Alway.

"People are still suffering. They are still paying off last year's Christmas before they even start this year."

Mrs Harvey said she had received wonderful support from Newport East MP Jessica Morden as well as the three ward councillors, Ray Truman, Ken Powell and John Guy.

She will be collecting signatures for her petition tomorrow at Maesglas Retail Park and the on-line petition on her website (see link below).

Jessica Morden said Mrs Harvey was doing a "fantastic job".

"It is not about her, she just felt desperately bad for all those people who lost money. She is a very dogged campaigner."