A Halesowen man has been awarded more than £18,000 for unfair dismissal after a Birmingham employment tribunal agreed he was an employee as well as a director.

George Jackson brought his claim against Wellfast Ltd of New John Street, Halesowen, which makes industrial supplies and fastners.

Mr Jackson joined the firm in 1989 as a normal employee and was made director and sales representative in 1998. He told the tribunal he believed he was unfairly dismissed after being blamed for a downturn in sales.

The firm opposed his claim because they claimed he was a director and not an employee and not entitled to the same rights as an employee where compensation for unfair dismissal was concerned.

Mr Jackson disagreed and said he basically worked as an employee setting up a van as a mobile shop around the Black Country selling the firm's items.

The firm was also accused of failing to carry out the correct disciplinary and dismissal proceedure in accordance with the Employment Rights Act.

Tribunal chairman David Kearsley said the tribunal decision was that Mr Jackson had been unfairly dismissed after deciding he had been an employee.

Mr Jackson, whose address was not disclosed, was awarded a total of £18,450 which included an increase because of the disciplinary and dismissal proceedure breach.

Mr Jackson said afterwards he was pleased with the outcome and had now started his own business in Oldbury printing T-shirts.