A Bradford construction company is taking legal action over a bills row following a massive revamp of the New Shay Stadium in Halifax.

Blakedell, based in Birkenshaw, said it has issued a High Court writ against Engageblend, the firm behind the redevelopment of the New Shay Stadium. The ground is used by the Halifax Blue Sox Rugby League club and Halifax Town Football Club.

The firm started work upgrading the ground in January to make it a dual-purpose ground shared by the Division Three football club and the town's Rugby League club, whose Thrum Hall ground was unsuitable for the Super League.

The clubs are unable to sell tickets for the South Stand, which has been revamped by Blakedell, because Calderdale Council has so-far refused to issue a safety certificate on it.

An earlier row over the ground blew up on August 23 when it was due to be officially opened at an all-ticket match against the Bradford Bulls. Many Bulls fans were left disappointed as the South Stand was not ready.

John Dawson, a director of Blakedell, said today: "We won a £620,000 contract to upgrade the stadium. A number of variations were needed to the original work schedule, which were agreed by the architect, and so we submitted a final bill of more than £800,000."

Engageblend disputes the size of the final bill and says it is unhappy with some of the work carried out by Blakedell.

Engageblend director Alan Lightowlers said: "We have already paid the firm £720,000 and a further amount became due last Thursday.

"We think it is rather strange that they issued a High Court writ on Friday when we asked them to talk with us about the bill."

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