The bosses of a new shop told today how they were being forced to change its name after being threatened with legal action - by a store more than 200 miles away.

Arianna Walker, of Queens-bury, and her business partner Sarah Niemen, 25, of Wibsey, who is due to give birth to twins next week, opened the Mums 2 Be maternity wear shop in Shipley six weeks ago.

The pair have sunk £8,000 into the new venture, including £3,000 on stationery bearing the company name, and they say business is booming.

But they were devastated when they recently received a solicitor's letter on behalf of a shop in southern England - also called Mums 2 Be - asking them to change the name.

They were told the name could create confusion for customers and suppliers and that a court injunction would be sought if it was not changed.

The partners have agreed to change the shop's name after taking legal advice and are now calling on people to help them come up with an alternative name.

And they are hoping their story will serve as a warning and help prevent the same thing happening to others setting up in business.

Mrs Walker, 26, who runs the Otley Road shop, which also sells second-hand children's clothes, said: "We were gobsmacked to receive the solicitor's letter - with us just starting out and Sarah expecting twins it was the last thing we needed.

"We came up with the name completely independently and thought we'd gone through all the right channels, registering as a limited company with Companies House.

"There was no other shop of that name registered with them but the other one's not a limited company and there's no national register covering them.

"But we've been told the owner of the other shop has prior use of the name and the right by law to stop us using it.

"We've been told we'd probably lose if it goes to court, so we'll be taking our solicitor's advice and changing the name.

"But we're a bit stuck for ideas on what to call ourselves and are offering a night away for two at a hotel in the Dales for the person coming up with the most original idea.''

Adrian Green, of Eaton's solicitors in Bradford, said he had great sympathy with his clients but added: "Unfortunately the law is against them."

IDEAS for a new name should be sent to Mrs Walker at Mums 2 Be, 25 Otley Road, Shipley, by next Wednesday.

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