An original member of rock band Oasis has failed in his bid to sue the group's lawyers after he was sacked because he took too long to file his claim.

Tony McCarroll was trying to sue solicitors Statham Gill Davies over his sacking from the band in 1995.

He believed the firm was negligent in handling the recording contract with Sony, drawn up in 1993, which allowed the band members to sack him instantly without compensation.

But judge Justice Gray, sitting at the High Court in London, told McCarroll his case could not proceed because he had brought his claim outside of the six-year time limit.

A summary judgement was awarded to the solicitors.

Tony McCarroll enjoyed the success of Oasis' first album

McCarroll formed Oasis with schoolfriends Liam Gallagher, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs and Paul McGuigan, with Noel Gallagher joining shortly afterwards.

The Gallaghers are now the only original members left in the line-up, but even they have a well-documented stormy relationship.

McCarroll was still part of the band when the album Definitely Maybe hit the top of the charts but had been dismissed before they started on the follow-up, What's the Story, Morning Glory.

Measurable damage

He was awarded �550,000 in unpaid royalties in 1999, effectively severing any ties he had with the Manchester-based band.

Justice Gray said McCarroll had intended to claim that Statham Gill Davies had acted negligently and "failed to point out that the effect of the Sony agreement was that the name Oasis was owned by the Gallagher brothers and left him vulnerable to instant dismissal without compensation".

"My conclusion is that the claimant did suffer relevant and measurable damage at the date when the Sony agreement was executed," he said.

But he said it could not proceed because of the delay in filing the case.

The judge also said that Statham Gill Davies strongly rejected claims of negligence.