A Keighley conservatory firm accused of ripping off customers is due to go into liquidation.

A creditors' meeting will be held next Friday for Stockbridge-based Conser-vatories by Design UK Ltd.

The firm operates mostly in the Midlands and south of England where customers claim it has refused to honour its promise to refund thousands of pounds.

Trading Standards officials have also received complaints about the firm's alleged sales practices across the region.

Meanwhile one of the firm's sub-contractors, builder Rus-sell Laker, is taking Conservatories By Design to court over an unpaid fee.

Conservatories By Design's premises in Aireworth Mills have been empty for at least the past fortnight and director Jim Robinson cannot be contacted on the firm's telephone numbers.

The premises of next-door firm Crystal Conservatories, also run by Mr Robinson, were also closed when the Keighley News called.

Jack Coulston, of Camberley, Surrey, and Sandra Munn, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertford-shire, phoned the Keighley News saying Conservatories By Design owed them at least £7,000 each.

The firm offers to build conservatories for half price if the customer lets it advertise the work and let other prospective customers look round it.

Conservatories By Design pledges to give back the entire payment if the customer provides the names of five other people interested in buying a conservatory.

Mr Coulton says he paid the money last September but had to wait eight weeks for the conservatory to be completed. He suffered numerous problems with cancelled visits, incorrect materials and workers not arriving.

Mrs Munn says she has been waiting four months for the return of the £8,000 she paid to Conservatories By Design, despite supplying names of prospective customers.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards spokesman Graham Hebblethwaite says the firm's actions are not illegal, but warns people not get involved in such deals.

He adds: "The scheme can't mathematically work. It's a classic pyramid situation - there aren't enough people to have conservatories."

Russell Laker, from Bournemouth firm Ambas-sador Construction, claims he is owed £3,386 for building about 11 conservatories for Conservatories by Design.

Bradford accountancy firm Rushtons will hold a creditors' meeting next Friday at 2.30pm in its North Parade office.

A spokesman for Rushtons said this week that Conservatories by Design UK had ceased trading.

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