THE managing director of an ailing brick company is said to have paid off his own private debts with bricks.

Col. John de Benham-Crosswell (64) of South Hay, Kingsley, is charged with the theft of 371,000 bricks from Selborne Brick and Tile Company in Honey Lane, Selborne. He also faces three charges of transferring £77,000 and the mineral rights to the company's land to firms owned by him and his family, with intent to defraud. He denies all charges.

A full version of this story will be found in the Alton Herald of April 7, 2000.