Two charities are suing Bank of Bermuda in a dispute over property left to them by a member of the Trimingham family.

Bermuda Sailors Home and the Bermuda Church Society, which takes care of mainly retired Anglican clergy, have issued a writ against the Bank and Bermuda Trust Company Limited, which deals with trusts set up by the bank.

Neither side would provide any details about the legal action yesterday, but it is understood the matter concerns a property left by a member of the Trimingham family who is now dead.

David Addington, the litigation manager of Mello Jones and Martin, which is acting for the charities, said: "The matter is a private concern of the charities and the bank upon which we have no comment to make at this time.

"But it something we would expect to resolve with the bank in due course, having issued proceedings to preserve our clients' position in the meantime."

A spokeswoman for the Bank said yesterday: "The Bank has not been served with a copy of the proceedings. The Bank is therefore unable to comment."

Bermuda Sailors Home was set up in 1946 to provide help for mariners in distress.

It is understood the dispute is not about the home, which is in Richmond Road, Hamilton.