An employment agent who provided extras for programmes including EastEnders and Casualty has been banned from running an agency for the maximum term of 10 years by a Southampton employment tribunal.

Malcolm Finnimore, who ran Riviera Artistes in Torquay, Devon, pocketed money he received on behalf of actors for their work in TV and film productions.

Finnimore had been prosecuted three times for failing to pass money on to actors and extras. He had also failed to pay a £7,520 County Court order for money he had received on behalf of other workers.

Employment minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: “The DTI will come down hard on any agency that flouts the law.”