A High Court writ demanding repayment of money said to be owed by a former sports and social club has been served on a parish council.

Brewer Carlsberg Tetley is demanding the payment of bills by Mistley Parish Council, mainly for beer supplied to the now-defunct Mistley Sports and Social Club.

The claim also includes interest and the remainder of what the company says the parish council owes it on a loan.

The shock announcement came at last night's meeting of the parish council when chairman Ian Rose said it was time residents knew what was happening.

And in a prepared statement, the parish council said: "The council has taken legal advice regarding the demand for the club's debts which has included obtaining counsel's opinion.

"This writ is being defended and counsel has entered a defence asking for the claim to be struck off as having no basis in law."

The problem goes back to November when the club, which was housed within the village hall, folded owing large sums of money.

The parish council itself was owed back rent. Mr Rose explained that in January, the council had received a demand from solictors acting for Carlsberg Tetley for the repayment of the outstanding part of the loan of £20,000 made in 1990 to help with the cost of building the Furze Hill hall.

"This, according to them, amounted to about £4,500," said Mr Rose, adding that the council had repaid what it considered it owed.

The brewers, he said, also demanded the repayment of the club's debt on its trading account, amounting to about £8,500.

In the statement, the council said: "Carlsberg Tetley bases its demand on a clause in the loan agreement which stated the council would ensure the club settled its debts by direct debit.

"The legal advice is that the council is not liable because the agreement was with Allied Breweries, the clause did not say the council would be liable for the debt if the club did not settle, and although the council may have acted illegally in entering into such an agreement in the first place, it was done in good faith at the time after having taken legal advice."

The first inkling they had, Mr Rose said, was when the clerk received a letter demanding payment within seven days.

"We feel very let down and will fight this," he added.

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