A NORTH-EAST wedding firm is being forced to change its name after it was threatened with legal action by world famous Paris fashion house Chloe.

Bosses at Chloe almost toppled off the catwalk when they heard of a bridal wear company of the same name being run by businesswoman Mary Blair in Darlington, County Durham.

Mrs Blair then received a solicitor's letter which claimed that the sharing of the name Chloe infringed the fashion house's trademark and could do "irreparable damage".

Faced with a potentially crippling court action she has now been forced to back down and change the company's name to Manhattan House.

However the move, which will involve erasing the name from the records at Company House in London, is expected to cost Mrs Blair up to £20,000.

She said: "This was a total bolt from the blue - a case of David against Goliath.

"The attitude of these people has been abysmal. What they are saying is that we are simply not as good as they are.

"It has taken myself and my daughter Claire seven years of hard work to build up our three shops, employ 24 staff and have a £1m turnover. I am not prepared to jeopardize that portion of our lives. We could not risk the consequences."

Chloe in Paris is headed by designer Stella McCartney, the daughter of former Beatle Sir Paul.

It was formed in 1952 and registered its worldwide trademark soon afterwards.

Jenny Hatton, legal advisor for Chloe, said the action taken had been to protect its company name and the rights of its customers.

She said: "We have to protect ourselves from being exploited and I do not accept that we act in an oppressive Goliath versus David way. Other large companies would act in exactly the same way that we do."