Victims in what is believed to be the country's biggest ever trading standards investigation are to get compensation, a crown court has heard.

North Yorkshire Trading Standards Officers are to give details of more than 100 people who suffered at the hands of a group of companies called Oldfields, to businessman Jason Clarke.

He is awaiting sentence after admitting six charges of fraudulent trading and is joined in the dock by three other men and a company called Strattons & Co (Consultant Surveyors Ltd). At an earlier hearing Robin Spencer QC called for the defendants to pay nearly £34,000 compensation to businesses who had paid money to the Oldfields companies.

Clarke's barrister, Peter Carter QC, said at Leeds Crown Court that Clarke would compensate those victims and had already arranged to give his solicitors money with which the compensation could be paid.

He was also willing to pay prosecution costs, though he disagreed with some of the money that was being asked.

Clarke, 32, of Crossgate Mews, Heaton, Stockport has admitted fraudulent trading with both the Oldfields companies and companies known as Strattons.

Mr Carter said that these companies were not set up to defraud, but their publicity material could be misleading.

The brochures were organised by a man now on the run.

The companies had provided a service to the community which did result in small businesses getting reductions in business rates.

The prosecution says that many businesses complained to trading standards that they were not getting the reductions they were promised.

North Yorkshire Trading Standards, with two other county departments, took the lead in investigating the Strattons and Oldfields' companies.

The other defendants are John Stenson, 36, of Forms Keep, Wilmslow; Lee Hilton, 30, of Oldham Road, Ashton under Lyme; Anthony Dardis, 31, of St Paul's Mews, Edgbaston, Birmingham; and Strattons & Co (consultant surveyors) Ltd who have admitted differing parts in the con.