A HEREFORD director of a public house business, which failed with total debts estimated at about £25,000, has been disqualified in the Canterbury County Court from acting as a company director for three years.

John Howard Pugh, of Whitecross Road, was a director of Outside Inns Limited, which carried on business from premises at the George Inn, in Ashford, Kent, from June 1999 to June 2001.

Outside Inns Limited was placed into compulsory liquidation by order of the High Court of Justice on 21 January 2002. The company has an estimated total deficiency of £24,932.

The Disqualification Order made on December 3, 2003, prevents John Howard Pugh from being a director of a company or, in any way, whether directly or indirectly, being concerned or taking part in the promotion, formation or management of a company for three years.

The Official Receiver at Canterbury had conduct of the investigation and brought the disqualification proceedings on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.