Geoff Hurst wins legal battle over 'valueless investment'

England's 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst today won his High Court action over his "valueless" investment in luxury Spanish apartments.

Sir Geoff, 68, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, who was not in court today, had joined forces with five others to sue businessman Mark Cordner and his wife Sandra.

They alleged that, in 2003 and 2004, because of Mr Cordner's deceit, they handed over the full purchase price - upfront and without security - for five off-plan apartments in a development called Aloha Royal, near Puerto Banus, Marbella.

They said they are now in a position where their rights over the apartments have either been destroyed or rendered worthless.

Mr Cordner admitted that he made some of the representations alleged by the six: named as Sir Geoff; David Barkley; Terence Hopley; Paul Kenyon; Martin Roberts and Verna Roberts - but denied they were made deceitfully or negligently.

But Mr Justice Keith, sitting in London, ruled that Mr Cordner, of Park Lane, Knebworth, Hertfordshire, was liable and that the six investors were entitled to damages for his deceit.

The amount of damages will be assessed at a later date.