Two directors of an employment agency business and a toy importing firm that failed with total debts estimated at about £409,000 have each given undertakings not to hold directorships or take any part in company management for five years.

Two directors of an employment agency business and a toy importing firm that failed with total debts estimated at about £409,000 have each given undertakings not to hold directorships or take any part in company management for five years.

Philip Anthony Seaman, of Shepperd Way, Attleborough, and Bryan Raymon Seaman, of Taylor Road, Norwich, gave the undertakings to the Insolvency Service in respect of their conduct as a directors of AJL Services and Hawk Global Products.

Both carried out business from premises at 6, the Beaver Centre, John Goshawk Road, Dereham.

The acceptance of the undertakings on April 11 prevents Philip and Bryan Seaman from being directors 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 five years.

AJL Services was placed into voluntary liquidation on February 13, 2001 with estimated debts of £271,816 owed to creditors. Hawk Global Products was placed into voluntary liquidation on July 27, 2001 with estimated debts of £17,807 owed to creditors.

The pair did not dispute the charges of unfit conduct leveled at them, which included causing AJL Services to trade to the detriment of Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue.

Between April 1, 2000 and liquidation on February 13, 2001, a total of £686,521.75 was paid out of AJL Services' bank account. But only £21,500 was paid to Customs and only £17,931 was paid to the Revenue. At

liquidation, Crown debts made up 88pc of the business's total liabilities.

The pair also failed to ensure that AJL Services maintained and preserved adequate accounting records and failed to provide such records in the liquidation.