I won't back down!

Liz Paul, who developed a patch to stop chocolate cravings, was given until yesterday by Cadbury's to withdraw an advertisement which they claim infringes their trademark.

Mrs Paul, 46, of Ilkley, says the mammoth confectionery firm "hasn't got a leg to stand on".

But Cadbury's, who say they 'jealously guard' their reputation, says they will take her to court if she doesn't "pull the advertising campaign forthwith".

Mrs Paul is managing director of The Aromacology Patch Company, which launched the vanilla-scented patch called Crave Control that claims to help slimmers resist cravings for chocolate and sweet foods.

Now Cadbury has asked the Valley Drive-based company to withdraw national press adverts for the patch which it claims are a trademark infringement.

But Mrs Paul refuses to ditch the campaign which she estimates has resulted in almost £400,000 worth of sales in a month.

Cadbury claims the adverts feature chocolate chunks which resemble its products, and use a lot of purple, similar to its adverts.

Mrs Paul, a former restaurateur, said: "I am not going to withdraw the advertising campaign. We have already spent £75,000 and will be spending another £75,000. After Christmas there will also be a TV campaign featuring Joanna Lumley.

"The writing on the chocolate is in a different type face and the chocolate is a completely different dimension. My solicitors do not think Cadbury's has a leg to stand on. What flatters me is that they must be bothered by what impact my product has had on the market otherwise they would not have hired a top London lawyer to write to us."

The patches, which have taken Mrs Paul five years to develop, are based on the theory that smell determines 95 per cent of our taste sensations. By saturating the sense of smell with a vanilla scent, slimmers no longer crave sugary foods.

Although says it has "no objection" to Mrs Paul's invention, it has threatened to start legal proceedings if the adverts are not withdrawn.

Mrs Paul, pictured wearing one of her patches, added: "I think Cadbury's are surprised we achieved such a good result. But I don't believe we are infringing their trademark as Crave Control is a healthcare product, not a confectionery one."

Richard Frost, a spokesman for Cadbury, said: "We've made quite clear our concerns. If she does not withdraw her advertising campaign we will have to decide what will be the most appropriate course of action.

"We know that a lot of people are already confused and have been ringing us to ask if we endorse this but I must stress that we do not. We would always resent anybody trading on our reputation."

He added: "We have a problem with the way Mrs Paul has chosen to show her product, extensively using purple and with chocolate chunks which look like Cadbury's. We jealously guard our reputation and we don't want people to think we have something to do with the product."