e(+)e(-)->b(b)over-barW(+)W(-) events at the next linear collider: Colour structure of top signal and irreducible background

We examine the colour structure and charged particle yield for both the <t(t)over bar> signal and the irreducible background processes contributing to e(+)e(-) --> <b(b)over bar W+W-> production dose to the <t(t)over bar> threshold. The charged particle multiplicity for the various components of the cross section is computed as a function of several kinematic variables. Our study may have important implications for recently proposed studies of interconnection phenomena in <t(t)over bar> production at high-energy e(+)e(-) colliders.