A boardroom battle featuring bosses at the Stobart Group is set to be played out at the High Court today.

Bosses at the Cumbria-founded company, which began life when founder Eddie Stobart went into business as an agricultural contractor in Hesket Newmarket during the 1960s before expanding into road haulage and becoming one of the best-known sights on the country’s roads, have sued former chief executive, Cumbria-based entrepreneur

Andrew Tinkler.

They say Mr Tinkler conspired with other businessmen to harm the company’s interests.

They have also have made claims about money spent on air travel, and want a judge to rule that he was lawfully dismissed as an employee earlier this year.

Mr Tinkler, a former cabinet-maker who was chief executive of the business between 2007 and 2017, overseeing deals including the purchase of Carlisle Lake District Airport, denies wrongdoing, saying he was removed for no good reason, and has counter-claimed.

Judge Jonathan Russen is due to start overseeing a trial in London.