A WITCHFINDER hunt for cowboy directors has the backing of Leigh MP Lawrence Cunliffe.

A 24-hour hotline has been launched to expose disqualified company directors who continue to trade illegally.

Mr Cunliffe says: "The hotline - 0845 601 3546 - has been set up by the Government's Insolvency Service for members of the public to report any disqualified directors who continue to trade.

"Latest figures reveal several horror stories - one director bounced 420 cheques!

"Others are falsifying accounts and lying to liquidators."

Hotline calls (charged at local rate) will alert the authorities to illegal activities by disqualified directors and undischarged bankrupts.

Such people are banned from acting as company directors, banned from involvement in the formation of a company or even the promotion of a company and banned from being involved in the management of a company without the court's permission.

Penalties include fines of £5,000 and up to two years in prison.

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