If France could block the club's expansion, that might then let it push for a tighter Union of 15, still centred on the old Franco-German alliance.

ECONOMIST: France and enlargement

The Ministry of Sound in Elephant and Castle is trying to stop the building of a block of flats nearby because club bosses fear noise complaints could force the venue's closure.

BBC: Example

As HMRC is often more than 25% of a club's debt it effectively has the power to block a CVA and has recently been exercising its right to do so.

BBC: League clubs approve transfer ban

The club is comprised of 10 Georgian town houses that span an entire block of Shepherd Market, a beautiful and quiet quarter in the middle of Mayfair.

WSJ: Like Home, Only Better

He is one of several parties interested in a block of shares former Rangers chairman Chris Wright agreed to free up when the club came out of administration last year.

BBC: QPR clinch USA link

"I stayed relaxed after one of the Kenya runners put a block on me, " said 21-year-old Twell, of the Aldershot, Farnham and District club.

BBC: Commonwealth Games 2010: Turner eases to hurdles title

At last count I could find eight variations on the "Cheese of the Month club", most of which lapsed about the same time, suggesting they were bought as a block.

BBC: Jumble sale for internet dreams