A German man clashed with airport officials after they refused to allow him to board a flight to Spain with a supermarket shopping trolley.

The 42-year-old man had packed his luggage into the trolley and tried to check it in at Dusseldorf Airport but staff refused to allow it through.

After a heated discussion, airport officials persuaded the holidaymaker to transfer his luggage into a more suitable holder - plastic carrier bags.

The tourist was eventually allowed to board the plane with his luggage in the bags - but he could face more problems on his return.

The publicity surrounding the case alerted the supermarket which owned the trolley to the fact the man had taken it, and he now faces legal charges for theft when he returns from his holiday.

A Dusseldorf police spokesman confirmed: "We have had all the details passed on to us by airport officials, and will be asking this gentleman to help us with our enquiries when he returns."