Former staff of the region's four Haven holiday camps could be in line for a cash windfall following a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal.

Former staff of the region's four Haven holiday camps could be in line for a cash windfall following a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal.

The court decided that Leisure Employment Services, which owns Haven and Butlins camps, should pay back staff who were docked money for gas and electricity when living on site between 2004 and 2005.

In a case brought by Revenue and Customs, with the support of the GMB union, Lord Justice Buxton ruled that the £6-a-fortnight deduction taken from seasonal workers breached regulations because it took them below the minimum wage.

A company spokesman pointed out that the £6 deduction was less than the cost of the gas and electricity - now they were billing staff for the true cost of fuel used they were, in many cases, worse off.

She said they were tracing former staff who might be eligible for a back payment, but estimated that it would only amount to 200 people across the country.

She said: “It mostly applies to Butlins camps where in peak season there are more people living on site. Most staff at Haven camps live locally and come into work each day.”

The Haven sites concerned, all around Yarmouth, are the Seashore, Caister, Wild Duck and Hopton camps.