Table height issues in IE

[onocentaur]

I'm trying to make a table that will automatically change in height so I can easily change the content without having to spend ages messing around with the other cells (which contain images). In IE, a column which AFAIK should stretch is not stretching. It does in Firefox!
Here is a simplified version which shows the problem: http://www.element42.org/test2.htm

The black borders are actually cells with a specified width. In the actual page, they merge with an image to provide a special border. Now, the left hand column is split into two rows. I want the top row to stretch to whatever length it needs to be; the bottom row would contain an image that fits into the exact bottom left (I've coloured the cell grey here); I've specified the height of the cell in the code but IE insists on 'growing' it!

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong, or how to fix it? (i.e. like it already is in FF) Thanks!

[DeadMeatGF]

Have you tried styling the layout with css instead of tables?
Tables are notoriously error-orine for layout.

[onocentaur]

Thanks, I haven't yet, I was hoping to keep it simple, but it looks like I may have to...

[DeadMeatGF]

error-orine

That should have said error-prone. I have no idea why I didn't spot that, or how you understood what I posted!