DIRECTOR George Hair, whose Corsham software business collapsed with debts of £26,000, has been banned from being a company director for five years.

Hair, of the Pigsty, Marsh Farm, Marsh Road, Hilperton, was disqualified from holding a directorship or taking part in company management for five years, after a hearing at Bath County Court on Friday last week concluded with a verdict of misconduct.

His company, Ambermicro Ltd, operated as a software consultancy from 50 Springfield Close in Rudloe, Corsham. It was wound up by the court on August 9 2000 with debts of £26,597.

The unfit conduct found by the court included failing to pay taxes.

Between July 15 1996 and February 28 1999 he received £97,689 and paid nothing to Inland Revenue. On the day of the winding-up order he owed £40,728 in respect of Corporation Tax and PAYE.

Hair also failed to submit his annual returns for 1997, 1998 and 1999 until May 13 1999, and those due by February 28 2000 were not filed at all.

The court heard that annual accounts for 1997 and 1998 were not filed until July 7 1999 and those due on December 28 1999 were not filed until August 2000.

A PAYE system was not operated and end of year tax returns for the tax years 1997-2000 were not sent in to the Inland Revenue. No corporation tax returns were submitted.