A PASSENGER whose summer cruise to Greenland turned out to be a real headache, has won a court case against the holiday company.

Doug Walters, who is 6ft 3in tall, successfully took Page and Moy to Dartford County Court after his trip turned him into a headbanger.

The ceilings on the Black Prince cruise ship were so low there were signs all over it, warning people to beware of low hanging light fittings and sprinklers.

Mr Walters, 70, of Halfway Street, Sidcup, had had a heart bypass operation and needs a regular exercise regime so he was pleased to see the ship, which is a former car ferry, had a fully equipped fitness suite onboard.

But while it had two rowing machines and four exercise bikes, there was only one treadmill and no cross trainers or steppers.

He soon discovered why, when he tried to use the treadmill.

He said: "The ceiling was so low, I could only use it with my head bent down onto my chest. Even then, my head was still touching the ceiling."

In his cabin, things were no better. Mr Walters claims his feet overhung the end of the bed by about six inches and his cabin, billed as a double, was barely big enough for one person.

When he returned from the cruise in August 2003, he wrote to the Leicester-based travel company, suggesting Page and Moy's brochure description of the Black Prince as a small ship which was "large enough to offer all the facilities you expect" was misleading and it should warn that taller passengers might have problems.

"I felt I had been duped by the brochure," Mr Walters told News Shopper. "The company rejected my complaints and tried to put the blame on me."

It was only when the case was due to go to court the company finally made Mr Walters an offer of £400 plus costs, which he rejected.

He said: "I wanted to get a judgment against the company."

The case went to court two weeks ago, where a district judge found the company had breached its contract with Mr Walters and awarded him £200 damages and costs.

Now Ian Scott, of Bexley Council's trading standards, who helped Mr Walters put his case together, is writing to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

"Although the brochure description does not breach the ASA's code of practice, I will be drawing its attention to the judge's ruling," he said.

A spokesman for Page and Moy told News Shopper: "The matter was resolved in court and we have no further comment to make at this stage."