A Pembridge man has been disqualified from being a company director because of the way he ran a Bromyard company.

At the hearing at Worcester County Court, Malcolm Davies, of Byletts, Pembridge, was disqualified for five years.

The disqualification order was made because of his conduct while a director of Smarthall Ltd, which manufactured weighing machines at Portbase Industrial Estate, Bromyard, Hereford.

The company was wound up in December 1996, with debts of £371,799, of which £220,619 was owed to the Crown, £71,616 due to the Inland Revenue in respect of PAYE, £65,978 due to the DSS in National Insurance contributions and £83,025 due to HM Customs and Excise in respect of VAT.

Matters of unfit conduct found by the court against Mr Davies included financing the company's business with funds retained from revenues collected on behalf of the Crown.

He also knowingly continued the company's business beyond a date when there was no reasonable prospect of all creditors being paid.

He was responsible for transferring the company's assets/business for an inadequate consideration to the detriment of creditors, and the indirect benefit to himself.

Mr Davies did not contest the proceedings.