A former building company boss has been disqualified from being a director after running up debts of more than half a million pounds.

David Antink, of Westfield Lane, St Leonards, was director of Sussex Building Contractors Ltd until it was wound up in 1998 with debts of £649,788.

Appearing in the High Court, Mr Antink was banned from taking any part in the management of a company for seven years.

The court heard how a series of examples of "unfit conduct" had brought the matter to the attention of the authorities.

They included retaining money due to the Inland Revenue - having already been declared bankrupt as a result of not being able to pay tax - failing to keep proper accounting records and trading while the company was insolvent.