Two dads who went head-to-head with a US energy drinks giant in a “David and Goliath” battle to save their start-up pizza company are being dragged through the courts again after winning their case.

Monsta Pizza, based in Wendover, was taken to court by Monster Energy after the conglomerate “aggressively” pursued the travelling pizzeria – which has been seen at a number of food and drinks markets and festivals around south Bucks, including Marlow and High Wycombe – for a year over the use of the word ‘monster’ in its name.

Co-founder Chris Dominey, known as Dom, said at the time the expensive legal costs were threatening to sink their business.

The pizzeria came out on top, with the UK Intellectual Property Office ruling in August that the drinks company had “failed” in its attempt to prevent Monsta Pizza from using the name.

But Monster Energy appealed the decision in September and is dragging the pair through the courts again in January and a crowdfunding campaign has been set up to help them pay their legal bills.

Dom said: “There’s no money left. The first round took everything out of us. It cost us £10,000 and we need another £3,000 to £4,000 for this appeal.

“We are so frustrated. We are being taken away from growing and developing our business. We have had to take out loans and finance agreements to fund new equipment because all our money has gone towards legal fees.

“Our aspirations are falling by the wayside. If we hadn’t had this battle we would be in quite a nice place, going to the next level, doing better stuff with our business and doing the extra things that we wanted to do.

“I walked away from a well-paid job to do something rewarding and positive. But I still have faith that we can make it what we want it to be. If this works, I will cry with joy and relief.”

To donate to the crowdfunding campaign, which launches today, visit www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-the-monsta.