TWO Redditch businessmen whose haulage business failed with nearly half a million pounds of debt have undertaken not to hold directorships for a combined 13 years.

Paul Marriott, aged 35, of Jersey Close, Church Hill North and Jason Lediard, aged 32 of Lydney Close, gave the undertaking in respect of their conduct as directors of Britspan Ltd, based at Kings Coughton Industrial Estate.

Britspan went into voluntary liquidation on January 11, 2001, with estimated debts to creditors of £474,000.

The Insolvency Service on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry investigated the conduct of both directors.

Both did not dispute that they had failed to ensure the company maintained adequate accounts and failed to comply with statutory duties in respect of PAYE, NIC and VAT.

The company was insolvent by February 2000 and both directors should have been aware by May 31, 2000 that Britspan was unable to pay debts and liquidation was inevitable.

Marriott was also a director of another firm, Blessgold Ltd, which went into insolvent liquidation in February 1999. Both Blessgold and Britspan had traded under the name MJM Freight Services