A BUSINESSMAN has been disqualified from acting as a company director for three years.

The order was made as a result of misconduct by Anthony Gilbert Thompson, of Beech Street, Accrington, when he was a director of P E T Engineering and Processing Services.

The company started trading in June 1997 at Anker House, Bolton Avenue, Huncoat, as a supplier of engineering services. It went into voluntary liquidation in March 1999 with debts of £57,500.

Examples of unfit conduct by Thompson found by a hearing at Manchester County Court on included that he failed to cause the company to ensure the safety of its employees. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £3,339 costs for breach of health and safety regulations.

The court also found he failed to ensure the company met its liabilities for PAYE, National Insurance and VAT whilst at the same time other creditors' claims were discharged; that he caused the company to repay him and a co-shareholder, Kevin Gallagher, money due under an outstanding loan/current account totalling £3,704; and that he caused the company to issue stationery bearing the incorrect company name.

Despite the disqualification, Thompson was granted permission to to act as a director of Anker House Exports Ltd, also trading from Bolton Avenue, for an initial period of 12 months.