THE director of a clothing company which failed with debts of more than £285,336 has given an undertaking not to hold directorships or take any part in company management for seven years.

According to the Insolvency Service yesterday, Sandra Scott, aged 55, of Park Avenue, Crook, County Durham, gave her undertaking in respect of her conduct as a director of Anna Christie (UK) Ltd. Based in Prospect Road, Crook. The business went into liquidation on November 13, 2000.

The service said Ms Scott had contravened the Insolvency Act by being a director of Anna Christie (UK) Ltd, which was a name prohibited to her because is was similar to Anna Christie Ltd, where she was on the board until it went into liquidation on October 14 1998.

She caused the company to retain £66,583 owing to the Inland Revenue for PAYE and National Insurance contributions, said the service.

No payments were made to the Inland Revenue from April 2000 to the date of liquidation and £8,014 was underpaid in tax from the 1999/2000 period. The company also owed £75,781 in VAT to HM Customs and Excise, having paid nothing since February 2000.