Lawyers acting for MGM have written to 007 Refrigeration

A small air-conditioning and fridge repair firm based in Northampton is to change its name after threats from film company MGM.

MGM, which owns the James Bond film brand, threatened legal action against 007 Refrigeration, says the firm.

Mick Purcell, who runs the business with a partner, said they had decided to change the name to avoid a possible costly and lengthy legal battle.

The firm will now be known as 700 Refrigeration.

'Licence to chill'

Lawyers acting for MGM said the name of the Northampton firm, which used the phrase "licence to chill" as part of its branding, could be seen as passing off as a film firm.

Mr Purcell told BBC News the company, which provides refrigeration and air-conditioning installation and maintenance, had been given two weeks to alter its branding.

He said: "Our customers can't believe it and why now - we have been trading for six years."

Mr Purcell said it would be difficult to see how someone could "misconstrue" the Northampton firm for a major film company making multi-million pound spy movies.

"Clearly, we are not," he said.

No-one from MGM was available for comment on Friday evening.