A DJ suddenly sacked from his job at Southern FM has been awarded a five-figure pay-off.

Richard Reynolds, 37, one of the station's top presenters for six years, disappeared from the airwaves in October last year when his contract was not renewed.

He threatened to take the station's owners Capital Radio to employment tribunal claiming sex discrimination after his slots were taken over by female presenter Jo Jacobs aged 25.

But proceedings have been withdrawn and Mr Reynolds, who lives in Hove with his wife Nicky Keig-Shevlin - who continues to present the station's early morning show - has been given a pay-off in excess of £30,000.

Both parties have signed a confidentiality agreement as part of the deal, although Southern FM confirmed the matter had been settled.

A spokeswoman said: "The parties confirm they have reached a settlement of the tribunal proceedings and Mr Reynolds has withdrawn all his claims against the company.

"The parties have therefore concluded the proceedings on an amicable basis."

Mr Reynolds is one of four high-profile names to have left the station in the space of 16 months.

Ambrose Harcourt, known as "Dr Luurve", left in March 2003 when his late-night Love Zone show was axed.

Simon Barker-Davies, known as Moody, suddenly left the station in July, shortly after the 2003 Party In The Park concert.

In April this year, Terry Garoghan, who presented the late evening show Last Bus To Whitehawk, left for personal reasons.

The departure comes as the most listened-to radio station in Sussex faces competition for the younger audience from newer stations, such as Worthing based Splash FM and Brighton's Juice FM.

Mr Reynolds joined SFM in October 1997.