THE quiet village of Lymm has become the scene of a battle - over Cheshire.

Ken Chambers, who runs Cheshire Housing Management, is in conflict with the Cheshire Building Society - because it has a claim on the county's name.

The building society registered Cheshire as a trademark in 1994 and owns the word Cheshire in five business categories, including estate agency services.

And that gives it the right to stop Mr Chambers using his company logo, because it says it mimics its own.

But Mr Chambers, of Longbutt Lane, said: "It's not. The lettering and the colours are different.

"It's ridiculous, I'm Cheshire born and bred and they tell me how to use the word.

"I could have called my business Lymm Housing Management, but I rent houses throughout the area and Cheshire is more appropriate."

The former computer salesman set up his house-letting firm in 1992. Last year, he bought premises in Eagle Brow - with the help of a mortgage from the Cheshire Building Society.

But in July, Cheshire Building Society told him it objected to his company logo, claiming it confused the public. It said he could use the name Cheshire, but not emphasize it in the design. And it could take legal action to stop Mr Chambers.

Cheshire Building Society marketing manager, Frank Harrington, said: "It first came to our attention when people came into our Lymm branch under the assumption that Cheshire Housing Management was part of the building society.

"We asked for alterations to be made, but they have not yet been completed to our satisfaction.

"We have tried very hard to reach an amicable agreement and we have had to contact our solicitors as a last resort."

Mr Chambers added: "I've spent £10,500 on upgrading the shop front and I can't afford to go to court to fight this."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.