Millennium Block Paving, which has been working at this house in Swindon Ref: 77603-69A PAVING business has caused so many complaints from dissatisfied customers that an injunction has been ordered against it.

The temporary order was granted by Swindon County Court, and it requires that Millennium Block Paving trade lawfully.

Swindon Council's Trading Standards has received 30 complaints against the business .

A further court hearing is likely to take place next month, when trading standards officers will seeks a full order from the court.

If the business breaches the injunction it could be held in contempt of court and face unlimited fines or imprisonment.

Millennium Block Paving has been ordered to stop carrying out work to a poor standard, stop making misleading statements, to give the owner's name and address on all documents and to inform people of their cancellation rights if they have knocked on their door.

According to Trading Standards, complaints against the Millennium Block Paving included shoddy workmanship and refusing to put work right or honour the ten-year guarantee.

They say that the business has failed to give details of the name and address of the its owner on paperwork, which effectively prevents consumers from suing the firm.

They also say it drums up business by cold calling at people's doors without informing consumers of their right to cancel.

The claims are denied by the owner Tony Ford, 38, of Blunsdon.

Trading standards believe he also uses the name Tony White. They say he was notified about the hearing but did not turn up.

Carla Baker of Swindon Trading Standards said: "We are very concerned that some of the consumers we spoke to are very unhappy with the work done for them by Millennium Block Paving and their failure to deal with the consumers' complaints.

"We would urge anybody who has had problems to contact us at Trading Standards, and we would stress again the importance of never dealing with traders who knock at the door unannounced."

Mr Ford said: "Customers are very happy with our workmanship and most of the faults are usually fixed. We don't knock on doors. People call us.

"We do get a lot of bogus people following up, claiming they work for me when they don't.

"We do not break the law and we are prepared to do what trading standards say.

"I do a good job, I don't go around burgling houses or ripping people off. I work hard for my money."

"It is making out that I am a rip-off person, but everything I do is above board.

"If there is a problem I'll fix it."

Mr Ford told the Evening Advertiser that he has owned the Brinkworth-based business for ten years.

He said he was not at court because he has been away for six weeks.

He added: "I have 100 recommendations from local customers who are pleased with the work I have done. I work for police officers and solicitors and if my work was so bad they wouldn't have me back.

"I've been taking legal advice because what trading standards is doing is obviously wrong."

David Andrew