A home help who said she was forced to resign because of the unfair way she was treated when pregnant has lost her claim for compensation.

Theresa Harris, who has since given birth to her baby, told an employment tribunal she became depressed after her working hours were cut.

Mrs Harris, of Quinnell Drive, Hailsham, made a claim for constructive dismissal and sexual discrimination against Wealden Community Care, an agency providing home care based in Heathfield.

The company denied treating her unfairly.

Mrs Harris said: "I had really enjoyed my job and intended to return to work after having my baby.

"There was no reason my hours had to be cut because I was pregnant. I never felt my pregnancy was a problem."

The tribunal heard Mrs Harris, who joined the company in February 2000, worked varied hours each week visiting clients in their own homes.

Her duties included shopping, cleaning and helping people to get up in the morning and go to bed at night.

After she became pregnant she said she repeatedly complained about the reduction in hours before resigning in September last year.

She accepted her roster was changed so she no longer worked with two clients whose health problems meant she could have put her pregnancy at risk if she helped lift them.

But she said the company should have offered her alternative work.

Company owner Angela Wright denied treating her unfairly. She said four other pregnant women had worked for the firm and there had never been a problem before.

Mrs Wright, who employs almost 30 staff, said her priority when dealing with pregnant staff was health and safety.

Clients had been transferred to other members of staff in order to protect Mrs Harris from risk and others had gone into hospital or on holiday.

Mrs Harris would have been provided with alternative work, such as spot check visits, to cover the reduction in hours but she had failed to discuss it with senior staff or invoke the company's grievance procedure.

Mrs Wright said: "We consider ourselves a friendly and compassionate company.

"All of the ladies who were pregnant have returned after having their babies.

"I have never discriminated against any of them and they have always been treated well."

"We tried to give Mrs Harris the hours she had been working but it was not possible. I cannot pull clients out of cupboards."

The Brighton tribunal ruled there was no evidence Mrs Harris had been treated less favourably than other staff because she was pregnant.