The judgement, which was filed at Watford County Court, is the fifth to be registered against the group in the past 12 months. The rest of the judgements are for smaller amounts.

KPG managing director Jack Wiethoff said he "did not wish to comment on events at this stage".

Credit checking agency ICSMs debt recovery manager Andy Allies said he was originally told about serious problems at Clarendon House Group in November last year.

The principal shareholders listed at Clarendon House Group are Alan Albert and Malcolm Jones, but when contacted by PrintWeek a spokeswoman said: "They no longer work at this office."

As PrintWeek went to press no one at the company was available for comment.

The groups last accounts, to 30 September 2000, show sales of 1.1m and pre-tax profit of 88,000.

Story by Andy Scott