An EasyJet passenger's luggage was ripped open and completely destroyed.

David Benjamin, 63, flew from Nice to Gatwick airport last weekend after a family wedding.

But on his arrival back home on Sunday he discovered his suitcase had been completely shredded with its contents ruined.

David, who regularly travels around the world for work, said: "We waited for quite a while in baggage reclaim before our bag came through on the conveyor belt upside down.

"I took it off, stood it on its wheels and then it fell over.

"I saw the wheels had been damaged which then brought my attention to the rest of it.

"They obviously knew it was damaged because of the delay and how they laid it carefully on the front hiding it."

The artwork and production manager's bag had been strewn open from the front, exposing the contents inside.

Some of the clothes had also been damaged and ripped with others ruined by the contents of a crushed toiletries bag.

David, from Staplehurst, said: "The only way I can describe it is imagine putting a drill through fabric.

"It looks as though it has been torn and crushed.

"No conveyor belt can do this sort of damage, to me it looks it has been caused by some sort of vehicle."

David had bought most of the clothes specifically for the wedding with the items totalling an estimated £400.

He says he is not aware of any fellow passengers' luggage being destroyed.

Now David is trying to sort the issue with the airline but has struggled to get answers.

He said: "The most frustrating thing from an operational point of view is there was no one at the airport to report it to.

"When I went to a desk to complain the staff behind it just pointed me to a machine and told me to scan a QR code.

'The only way I can describe it is imagine putting a drill through fabric...'

"That takes you to a website and on it they say to not tick the box that says you reported it to the airport - I don't know why but I haven't heard back since."

"I have tried calling them but no one picks up and the recorded message says not to leave a voicemail as the likelihood is it won't be replied to.

"I even went to Twitter to reach out to EasyJet and they said to DM my information which I have done but have still not heard a response.

"I'm stuck in limbo and I don't know what to do.

"Even if they turn around and say we're not liable then at least that's a response but I haven't even got that.

"My insurers won't pay any claim on the contents until EasyJet states in writing what they will and won't settle."

David's next work trip will see him fly to Thailand next Sunday.

He says he has had luggage damaged before but never to this extent.

He said: "I understand accidents happen and this is the third time in all my years travelling that something was damaged.

"But before everything used to get sorted in the airport and they'd replace luggage there.

"The woman at the EasyJet desk even said that's what they used to do but due to cutbacks everything is attempted to be done digitally now."

He's hoping he can receive some sort of compensation or replacement for the damaged goods but at the very least is seeking an apology.

EasyJet has been contacted for a comment.