THE Lancashire Hotpots comedy folk group has responded with trademark humour after being threatened with legal action from the International Olympic Committee over the title of one of its songs.

Lawyers from the IOC claim the St Helens group's song The Beer Olympics is a breach of copyright and the five-piece group was given a 'cease and desist' order.

The band were told the IOC has a trademark copyright on the word Olympics.

In true Hotpots style the group has responded by jokingly renaming the song 'The Beer International Non-Profit Non-Governmental Sporting Quad Yearly Event'.

"The first action for us has been to re-title the song," said Hotpots' incidental percussionist Dickie Ticker.

"Hopefully it will get them off our backs. Being the comedy band that we are the title is 'The Beer International Non-Profit Non-Governmental Sporting Quad Yearly Event.'. We thought if you're going to be awkward we're going to do something that shows you up."

Since the Hotpots were formed nearly a decade ago and they have made 10 albums and enjoy playing in front of crowds around the country with he's Turned Emo and Chippy Tea among some of their best-known hits.

"We made the best of a bad situation, we're hoping the re-title of the song will placate them," added Dickie, 47.

"We wrote the song in 2008, I don't know why it's come up. When large multi-national global corporations come knocking on your door all you can do is be like a puppy. It's very much a David versus Goliath and David has said we'll do what you want."

An IOC spokesman told a national newspaper: "The IOC is the exclusive owner of the rights to the Olympic Games. As such, the IOC asks all non-authorised uses to be ceased accordingly."