A High Court judge has criticised the "hardball" approach of high-street recruiter Pertemps in an acrimonious boardroom feud that led to litigation.

Mr Justice Peter Smith granted an injunction on 10 May blocking Pertemps from appointing receivers to marketing firm Fusion Interactive Communication Solutions, which the recruiter part-owns.

Pertemps director Tim Watts and fellow director Nigel Bacon also hold directorships in Fusion.

They have been at loggerheads with two of the company's other directors, Roger Seear and Richard Hopkins, following the termination of a managed service agreement.

Seear, Hopkins and another director control 55% of Fusion, with Pertemps controlling the other 45%.

The dispute culminated in an attempt by Pertemps to wind up Fusion in November and the firms have been involved in a protracted and costly legal row since then.

Mr Smith said: "Surely the parties realise they have to find a resolution to this dispute - the company cannot carry on because the board is deadlocked."

He added: "It is not right to say that Pertemps has conducted itself in an inappropriate way. But I can only despair at the hardball approach." Mr Smith also spoke of his despair that the two sides could not settle things amicably.

The dispute focuses on a £23,500 cheque due under a cancelled managed service agreement, which Fusion claimed to have paid to Pertemps but had not been processed.

Pertemps claimed it had the right to appoint receivers under a debenture that required Fusion to pay off all debts.