The Chesterfield-based director of a Bradford firm of building contractors has been disqualified from acting as a company director following a court hearing in Leeds.

Julian Crane, 37, was disqualified for four years as a result of his misconduct as a director of Blakedell Ltd.

The company went into liquidation on March 15, 1999, with an estimated deficiency to creditors of £859,881. Its last principal trading address was The Old School, Redford Road, Birkenshaw.

The two matters of unfit conduct found by the court were:

l Continuing to trade the company beyond July 1998 when he knew or ought to have known this was to the detriment of creditors.

l Failing to keep accounting records, or if they were maintained, failing to deliver them to the liquidator.

The court heard many local businesses had been affected as trade creditors.