UB40 Declared Bankrupt By Judge

Four of the original members of British reggae group UB40 have been declared bankrupt following on going bust-ups about their finances.

A judge ruling at Birmingham County Court made the ruling against drummer Jimmy Brown, trumpeter Terence Oswald, saxophone player Brain Travers and percussionist Norman Hassan.

It comes after the failure of their now defunct record label DEP International and a fall out over finances which lead to the group slitting up in 2008.

UB40, what are named after the after the government's unemployment benefit form, have sold more than 70 million albums and notched up more than 50 chart hits in their 33-year career.

The court order lasts for a year and means that tax officers could seize property to pay off any outstanding debts.

The four musicians' details have now been listed by the Insolvency Service.

A spokesperson for the former frontman Ali Campbell told the Daily Telegraph that he was right to quit he band in 2008 after arguments over the bands finances, citing "management difficulties."

"It is ironic that the very week they celebrate their first gig they have been declared bankrupt, after administration began in 2006, vindicating both Ali and Mickey Virtue's decision to leave UB40," she said.

A fifth original member of the group - Robin Campbell, the brother of Ali - was also involved in the Birmingham County Court case, although is not listed as bankrupt.