FURIOUS company bosses have reported a printing company to trading standards chiefs after claiming it has vanished with thousands of pounds of their money.

Seven companies from East Lancashire signed up to a deal with Preston-based Advantage Image and Design Ltd which offered to design, print and distribute 50,000 leaflets in the area.

But three months on, the companies have been told by printing firm Print Plus in Bradford, which was hired by Advantage to print the leaflets, that only 25,000 rather than 50,000 were ordered.

The companies from Blackburn and Darwen believe many of the leaflets may have been dumped.

Businesses involved include a Darwen clothes shop, Blackburn firms Country Fields Nursery, Britannia Car Sales, David Marshall carpet and upholstery cleaning, BJK Pet Supplies and Window World.

A spokeswoman for Print Plus, of Bradford, added: "Some of the companies in Blackburn paid to have 50,000 leaflets printed. Advantage asked us to print 25,000 leaflets and they still owe us £2,500."

Stephen Little, manager of Britannia Car Sales, Blackburn, said: "We were charged £450 plus VAT for the leaflets, but it looks like they've taken advantage of us." Brendan Vinter, owner of BJK Pet Supplies, said: "I've got shops in Blackburn, Mill Hill and Great Harwood and none of my staff or my familiy have had leaflets, so they've clearly not been delivered."

Gilbert Starbuck, East Lancashire secretary of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "We will be investigating. This company advertises in the Yellow Pages and it's sad that people have spent their money to get nowhere."

A spokesman for Lancashire Trading Standards said officers were investigating.

Advantage was today "unavailable" at the telephone number listed in the Yellow Pages. A mobile number said to belong to the company's manager rang, but was not answered.

When the Lancashire Evening Telegraph visited the company in Ribbleton Lane, Preston, a "To Let" sign had been placed in the window. The landlord, who declined to give her name, said she was also owed money by the firm.

Nearby traders said they had not seen the owner of the print firm for more than a week.

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