Pursuing a libel action is traditionally the preserve of A-list celebrities or those with very deep pockets.

But a long-running defamation row at the heart of the Leamington Spa Sikh community offers hope for those with a strong case which will not leave claimants facing financial ruin should they lose.

The case centred on the building of a new temple and leaflets suggesting fivemen instrumental in the project weremisleading people within the community.

It was a damaging slight which had a detrimental effect on their businesses.

The men, including construction entrepreneur Dr Gurmit Singh, sought legal advice from Leamington Spa law firm Wright Hassall.

Daniel Jennings, a senior associate who advised them, said the dispute started in the spring of 2010, during which defamatory literature was repeatedly distributed to residents around the Queensway area of Leamington.

Mr Jennings said: “Literature was distributed to the Sikh community and we believe it ran into the thousands. It said they had damaged temple buildings, had been misleading the congregation and had ulterior motives.

"Also that they were going to remove an elderly community centre off site and leave its users with nowhere to go.”

Mr Jennings said the allegations continued and a petition was also launched which ended up being signed by more than 1,000 people.

He added: “They repeated some of the first allegations but went further saying their committee had taken and held on to money owed to a local Sikh community centre, they had caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in secret to a temple building and were betraying promises made to the congreation.

“They obtained a list of names and addresses, identified local Sikhs and distributed literature to those addresses. Our clients believed thousands of documents were produced and at that stage the congregation at the temple was extremely large.”

Mr Jennings said the men were worried about the amount of damage being caused to their respective businesses and reputations.