Levi Strauss has threatened a tiny clothing firm with legal action after it used a back pocket brand tab on its own label jeans.

Bosses at Howies in Cardigan Bay, west Wales, were stunned to receive a writ from the jeanswear giant.

Director David Hieatt said the writ warned Howies had infringed Levi's red tab by placing its own grey lookalike on a pocket.

He said he was "stunned" when he was asked to sign for a recorded delivery letter last week only to find it contained a writ from the US company.

"Apparently, the company has a patent protecting the position of the brand tab on the back pocket of its jeans," said Mr Hieatt, 38.

"It seems completely ridiculous to me. How can you hold a patent for where something has to be situated?

"We respect people's trademarks and company rights but we are not talking about the label but where you can position it."

Howies, which has a staff of five and an annual turnover of just £300,000, has won a host of international awards for its designs.

A Levi Strauss spokeswoman confirmed a writ had been sent to Howies.