KIDDERMINSTER Harriers Football Club Ltd, the company behind the town's football team, have warded off moves to wind them up over unpaid tax by paying up before the court hearing.

HM Revenue & Customs had lodged a petition at the Insolvency and Companies Court seeking the company's winding up over an unpaid tax bill for an undisclosed amount.

The Harriers, who have been in existence since the late 1880s, are now in the Vanaram National League North having achieved the accolade of playing five seasons in the Football League from 2000.

The barrister for HMRC told Chief Registrar Judge Nicholas Briggs on Wednesday that the debt had now been paid in full and a result he asked for the winding up petition to be dismissed.

The judge agreed and dismissed the petition.

If the move to wind up the company had succeeded, its affairs would effectively have been handed over to an official receiver.

His job would then have been to do his best to ensure that debts are paid off by selling any assets available and then bringing business to a close.

A spokesman from Kidderminster Harriers said: "This relates simply to a cashflow issue, one that almost any club in the country experiences.

"We'd reiterate that the matter never reached the stage of a formal hearing and never would have.

"Our Tax and PAYE commitments to HMRC are fully up to date so on that front there is absolutely no concern."