A high-flying executive has been sacked for allegedly stealing £35,000 in shopping vouchers.

Sharon French Belton, 39, was fired from her £100,000 a year job at EDF Energy for gross misconduct.

Mrs French Belton, who was the Sussexbased director of acquisition and retention at the company's customer branch, allegedly stole Capital Bonds vouchers which are given to staff as a tax-free bonus.

The vouchers can be exchanged in more than 100 stores in the UK, including major chains such as Topshop, Comet and HMV.

Mrs French Belton, whose husband Mike works for EDF Energy as a staff satisfaction manager, had worked at the firm for ten years.

She lives in Heatherstone Road, Worthing, with her husband and three step-sons.

Selected staff from EDF Energy's 13,000-strong workforce were sent an email by chief operating officer Derek Lickorish which said police would investigate the theft.

It said: "I regret to inform you about an extremely serious and disappointing breach of the company disciplinary rules by Sharon French Belton.

"Sharon was found to have committed gross misconduct for theft and was dismissed."

A spokeswoman for EDF Energy confirmed that an employee had recently been dismissed for gross misconduct.

She said: "This is a very serious case and the company has reported the matter to the police.

"We have no further comment to make at this stage."

Sussex Police said a woman had been cautioned in relation to the allegations.

In February Mrs Belton French, who is a keen horse rider in her spare time, told friends she was pregnant.

When an Argus reporter called at Mrs French Belton's home yesterday, a man answered the door and said: "No comment.

"We just want to be left alone."