Potentially hundreds of prom-goers from around the UK have been stranded after a so-called national limo hire firm closed down.

TheChauffeur.com was contacted by a group of children from Hampshire after they tried to contact Sussex based ‘National Limousine Hire’ two weeks before their prom night. After receiving no reply from the company, they checked the website to find the company had disappeared leaving no trace of their deposit.

Soon after, another group from Bevendean Primary School, Brighton also fell victim to the limo hire firm and they appealed through the local press to find replacement limousines for the event after also paying a £370 deposit.

There are fears that the pupils may have been victims of a nationwide scam as the firms website, which was labelled ‘Largest limo company in the UK’ now simply states; ‘Unfortunately, due to the economy, National Limousine Hire has been forced to cease trading with immediate effect.’

Recent checks on the firms Companies House page states it was set up in December 2009 and dissolved in August 2011. Both the clients who contacted us booked the limousines in January and February this year.

Also trading with the name ‘Sussex Limousine Hire’ and ‘Hampshire Limousine Hire’, the company’s domain name was registered to an address in Manchester with similar registrant on all domains. TheChauffeur.com spoke to an officer at the Mid-Sussex Council Council who was totally unaware of the operator and a VOSA online search also showed no results relating to any of its trading names.

Vehicles on the gallery pages of the site showed images of the ‘HumZilla’ limousine, (a bright yellow raised Hummer H2), and a number of other SUV type limousines and Chrysler 300′s.

After an email appeal to the members of the National Limousine and Chauffeur Association, a limousine company was found to help out the Hampshire group on one of the busiest prom days of the year. It’s unknown if a car was found to transport the children from Sussex.

Have you had calls from stranded prom-goers who have been let down by this company? Let us know by emailing editor@thechauffeur.com.

Members of the public who have fallen victim are being encouraged to report their case by visiting Action Fraud here.