A woman who alleged that her colleagues called her "large arse" has lost her claim for compensation for sexual harassment.

Alison Payne, from Brighton, made a claim to an employment tribunal against her former employers Pendragon Motor Group and RBS Garages, which took over the group's Peacehaven branch in July last year.

Ms Payne, who was employed as a business manager at a branch in Peacehaven, claimed she was the victim of sexual discrimination because she was not offered part-time work when she left to have a baby in April last year.

She admitted she informed her boss she had no intention of working full-time again but denied resigning.

She accepted she had no legal right to return part-time, but claimed her manager agreed he would find her part-time work when she was ready to return after her maternity leave.

She argued the failure to find her work amounted to discrimination against her on the grounds of her sex because she had to leave her job because of her pregnancy.

But the tribunal accepted the company's explanation that all it had offered was an indication to try to find a suitable part-time post and her claims for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination were rejected.

The tribunal heard she had been happy in her job. It saw a letter to her boss in which she said: "I can honestly say I will miss everyone loads and would jump at the chance to be employed here again in the near future."

But during the hearing last month, Ms Payne claimed her colleagues' attitude changed while she was pregnant.

She complained about cars being moved in the showroom because she was concerned about fumes from the engines affecting her unborn child.

She strongly objected and would leave her office when the cars were being moved although she felt it was unfair she was forced out.

But the tribunal heard from other staff that when Ms Payne left the office to escape the fumes she could be seen smoking a cigarette.

She also complained about the discussion of her personal problems in the workplace but the tribunal ruled that, although there may have been jokes made, there was no evidence that her colleagues were anything less than concerned.

She also objected to being given the nickname "large arse", but her workmates claimed she gave herself the name.

The tribunal was shown a card sent by Ms Payne to her former boss on his birthday in which she signed herself: "Love Alison, Bump and Large Arse!!!".