Craig Whyte today began the latest round of a High Court fight with a ticket-buying firm in connection with his ownership of Rangers.

Craig Whyte appealed after being ordered to pay more than £17 million to Ticketus earlier this year.

He asked Deputy High Judge David Halpern QC to overturn the ruling, made by a more junior judge, at a hearing in London.

Ticketus said Mr Whyte had fraudulently or negligently made representations which induced the company to enter into agreements related to the sale or purchase of Rangers' season tickets in 201, and claimed damages.

Mr Whyte disputed the claim.

But in April a High Court master had ruled against Mr Whyte prior to a trial, after Ticketus argued that the former Rangers' boss had "no real prospect" of mounting a successful defence.

The master ordered Mr Whyte to pay £17.6 million.

Lawyers for Mr Whyte today argued that the master's decision to grant a "summary judgment" had been unfair.

They said the case should be allowed to go to trial and said Mr Whyte had a "realistic" defence.

The judge is expected to finishing hearing evidence and legal argument later today.

Judge Halpern was told that the case centred on answers given by Mr Whyte on a questionnaire which featured in a "due diligence process".

The master had said Mr Whyte answered "no" when asked whether he had been disqualified from working as a director.

He said Mr Whyte had been disqualified in 2000.

Ticketus said it relied upon the answer - and said Mr Whyte knew that he had made false representations.

The master said Mr Whyte had said the questionnaire was "prepared by his solicitors" and he had "expected his solicitors to ensure it was accurate".

But he said the "inescapable conclusion" was that Mr Whyte "knew" answers were false - or had been negligent in failing to check.

The hearing ended shortly after 3pm and Judge Halpern said he would deliver a ruling at a later date.