Mistaken identity

You have to admire Farmington Stone, the Cheltenham based quarrying company. It's a company that enjoys a fight.

Last year its directors had to withstand attacks from the Bath Stone Company which was complaining that Farmington called its product Bath stone although it did not come from Bath.

Now Farmington is having a set to with The Stone Federation, which it recently left because it was disillusioned with its success. But Farmington ran an out-of-date advert in a magazine which stated it was a SF member. The SF reported the firm to the trading standards and now Gloucestershire County Council is after it.

Farmington is coming out fighting. Director Martin Robins told Backbites: 'Anyone can make a mistake. We've pointed out that the council's letter called us Farmington Stores and had the date 2 August 1994 instead of January 1995.'

And what of the Stone Federation, Mr Robins? 'We have found The Stone Federation a quite hopeless organisation to promote the industry.'

Don't pull your punches, Mr Robins.