The firms have been battling with each other over telehandler designs with JCB claiming one of its patented productivity devices had been copied by its rival.

Now both sides have decided by mutual consent to draw a line under the issue.

In a joint statement the firms said: “Manitou BF and J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited have decided, by mutual agreement, to put an end to all patent infringement litigation.

“The disputes initiated from May 2017 concerned three European patents and led to a set of legal proceedings in France, the United Kingdom and Italy.

“The end of these disputes has no impact on the present and future activity of both parties, nor on the characteristics of the products marketed by each of them.”