A SOLICITOR who allowed a bookkeeper to make a string of basic accounting errors at his law firm has been fined £1,000.

Keith Hurst, 45, landed himself in trouble with the Law Society after an inspector in September 2004 discovered simple errors that included clients' money being put in the wrong account.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard £2,513 belonging to 23 clients had been transferred to office coffers at Hurst's firm, based on Denton Street, Widnes.

Another £1,447 from another six clients had been over-transferred, causing a cash shortage of more than £1,000, the hearing was told.

Hurst had also broken strict regulations when he failed to honour an undertaking to discharge an existing loan on a property while handling a house sale for a client.

The lawyer had promised to deal with the paperwork in October 2002 but the matter was still unresolved 12 months later.

Hurst appeared at the hearing in London to admit breaching the accounts rules and failing to comply with a professional undertaking.

He also admitted failing to reply promptly to letters from the Law Society quizzing him about the errors.

The errors were rectified after they were brought to Hurst's attention by Law Society officials.

Peter Cadman, for the Law Society, said: 'The books of account were not properly written up. These are repeated matters of miscon-duct.

'They showed a lack of control over client funds. Accuracy is all important in these matters.'

Hurst had appeared before the tribunal in January 2004, when he was fined £1,500 for accounts rule errors.

Nick Lloyd, defending, said: 'He made a single mistake: He gave the bookkeeper a second chance. The bookkeeper wasn't up to it.

'He must carry the can for that and he fully accepts responsibility.'

The tribunal heard the firm, which opened in 1996 and employs five staff, provides 'a valuable service for the local community'.

No dishonesty was alleged against Hurst and no client lost any money.

The tribunal fined Hurst £1,000 and ordered him to pay costs of £5,900.

Chairman Alan Ground told him: 'We hope you do not have to come here again.'