A RADCLIFFE businessman, whose companies crashed leaving massive debts of more than £600,000, has been banned from acting as a company director for five years.

Colin Yates's Windacre Wallcoverings (UK) Ltd business collapsed in 1996 with estimated debts to creditors of £451,155.

And his Melody Decor Ltd company went into voluntary liquidation in June 1998, with estimated debts of £203,430, more than £35,000 of which was owed to Crown departments.

The disqualification against Mr Yates, of Stainton Close, Radcliffe, imposed at Manchester County Court, bans him from being a director of a company or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, being concerned in or taking part in the promotion, formation or management of a company for the stipulated period. The order was made in respect of Mr Yates's conduct as a director of both Windacre Wallcoverings (UK) Ltd and Melody Decor Ltd.

Windacre traded from premises at Sunnybank Mill, Cams Lane, Radcliffe, as a manufacturer of wallpaper products from November 1978 until October 1996 and it was put into voluntary liquidation the following July.

Of the estimated debts, £98,679 was due to various Crown departments.

Melody Decor traded from February 1997 until June the following year as a manufacturer of wallpaper and gift wrapping paper from the same premises.

The allegations of unfit conduct found by the court against Mr Yates were as follows: --

Windacre. He knew or ought to have known the company was insolvent from at least January 1996. Trading after that date was continued without reasonable prospect of payment to creditors in full.

He caused or permitted the company to discharge outstanding finance liability on two vehicles in the sums of £2,000 and £2,800.

The vehicles were then transferred to Mr Yates and his wife in lieu of bonus and director's fees for 1995-96. The couple each paid £10 for the vehicles.

Subsequently, at the liquidator's request, Mr Yates delivered the vehicle he held back to the joint liquidator while his wife paid £4,500 to the liquidator in respect of her vehicle.

Melody Decor Ltd. He knew or ought to have known the company was insolvent from at least December 1997. Trading thereafter was continued without reasonable prospect of payments to creditors in full.