CITY shoemaker Barry Forte is in a dispute with a major company over claims it is using a trade name he registered.

Mr Forte, 49, of Chuckle Shoes in Fore Street, says Kickers has been using his trademark on some of its trendy shoe styles for the last three years.

But he has been using the word Chuckle on his footwear before it became law to register a trademark more than 20 years ago.

He said the dispute is now in the hands of his solicitors.

"I am the registered trademark holder of Chuckle Shoes but during the last three years, Kickers, which will be one of the biggest shoe manufacturers in the next few years, has been using my trademark name on one of its shoes," he said.

"Despite letters from solicitors and various efforts to stop them using it, they have been doing so since 2007.

"I'm spending lots of money but it is like the big bully against the little guy. It's a David and Goliath struggle."

He cited an occasion when one of his customers bought a pair of the Kickers shoes from Littlewoods.

He said: "She bought them thinking they were something to do with our business in Exeter.

"I would like her to get in touch with me because Kickers is in the wrong as I own the trademark."

Mr Forte said the local trading standards had taken up the case regarding the name, but that Kickers had accused him of copying its shoes.

"That is a totally ludicrous claim," said Mr Forte.

"It is talking about trying to challenge my trademark saying I have not been using it for the last five years."

The Kickers shoes complained of include the Chuckle C Pump, the Chuckle Skull and Chuckle London.

Mr Forte said he now believed Kickers' version of Chuckle shoes were "more dominant" than his own.

Kickers confirmed it was legally embroiled in the trademark issue.

A spokesman for the company in London said she had spoken to its legal department regarding the style name Chuckle.

She could not say more than: "Since this is a potential litigation matter we are unable to make a comment at this time."