A FATHER-and-son have been banned from being company directors for seven years after their building firm was wound up owing more than £400,000.

Blackburn County Court banned George Pearce, of Pleasington, and his son, Francis Damian, after hearing of their involvement with George Pearce Construction of Clayton-le-Moors.

The court heard both men misrepresented a transaction to the Department of Trade and Industry to get a £24,000 grant.

Also they did not keep proper accounting records and carried on trading without regard to whether the company was solvent.

Francis, of Victoria Terrace, Mellor Brook, was also found to have misappropriated company funds in connection with a £50,000 payment to a firm called Arcadian Homes Ltd of which he was a director.

George Pearce Construction Ltd carried on in business for 29 months until January, 1994. It was initially based at Weir Street, Blackburn before relocating to Canal Street, Clayton-le-Moors.

The company was voluntarily wound up in January 1994 with estimated debts of £257,728, although the figure was later revised to £411,968.

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