A DIRECTOR of a North-East pub chain that went bust owing nearly £300,000, has agreed not to manage any company for four years.

Keith Willcock, of St Paul's Terrace, West Pelton, County Durham, was director of Prestige Inns, which ran four pubs in Chester-le-Street and Durham which went into liquidation in March 2000 owing £280,000 to creditors. Most of the debt was tax owed to the Inland Revenue.

The pubs were: the Chester Moor Inn, Chester Moor, near Chester-le-Street; the Coach and Horses Hotel, Croxdale; Elvets, Elvet Bridge, Durham; and the Waldridge Tavern, Waldridge, near Chester-le-Street.

Mr Willcock gave an undertaking not to hold directorships or take part in company management for four years.