A workman who claimed he was sacked for refusing to drive a van he believed was dangerous has won his legal action for compensation.

John Berry, of Dean Gardens, Portslade, was awarded £628 compensation by an employment tribunal to cover loss of wages and travel costs while he was searching for a new job.

He claimed he was unfairly dismissed in August last year by Line 5, a civil engineering company based in Burwash Road, Hove, after he complained about the van, which belonged to a road construction firm his employers were working for.

He said the 14-year-old van had a steering fault and a bald tyre.

The company, which denied treating him unfairly, said he was dismissed after four months because there was no more work for him.

Mr Berry, who found a new position three weeks after losing his job, claimed he was sacked because he had raised a health and safety issue.

He told the Brighton hearing he had been driving the van home from a job in Kent when he narrowly avoided an accident after the vehicle veered across the road. He refused to drive it again.

He said the van was unroadworthy and that he feared he would lose his driving licence if stopped by police.

Mr Berry said: "That van was illegal to drive."

He denied he had complained about the van because he did not like the job or the journey to Kent.

The company said Mr Berry was dismissed because there was no further work for him after the contract was cancelled because he refused to use the van or his own car.

The tribunal heard the van was checked following his complaint. It had a bald tyre but no other faults were found.

Michael Johnson, owner of Line 5, said he drove the van after Mr Berry refused and did not believe there was a problem.