THE director of a firm of estate agents which had falsely claimed to be chartered surveyors was fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to misleading the public.

Wilson Estate Agents Limited of Northolt Road, South Harrow and its director, Palani Jegatheeswaran, were also ordered to pay £878 in costs to Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service at Harrow Magistrates Court last month.

Officers had received a complaint from a chartered surveyor after he noticed the company had made the claim on the shop fascia and business stationery.

When the defendant was formally interviewed, he stated that any work was passed onto a firm of chartered surveyors but believed if he was referring clients in this manner then he could claim that they were chartered surveyors.

During the hearing, Mr Jegatheeswaran's solicitor said he had admitted to the offences from the beginning of the investigation and the shop front and stationery had been amended.