A Droitwich tyres delivery firm, which sacked a van driver after he did not turn up for work, is facing compensation claims for breach of contract and unpaid wages.

Richard Fox, of Stourport-on-Severn, was given the go ahead at a Birmingham Employment Tribunal preliminary hearing to make his claims against Malvern Tyres Wholesale Ltd of Hampton Road, Droitwich.

Mr Fox was employed by the firm for four months, delivered tyres throughout the West Midlands.

The hearing was held to enable tribunal chairperson Jane Kelly to decide whether Mr Fox's claims should be allowed to go ahead at a full hearing.

She decided they should and the full hearing, with evidence from witnesses, is to be held later.

Richard Green, representing the firm, told the tribunal that Mr Fox had failed to turn up for work before a bank holiday. It had not been the first time he had failed to appear for work, he said.

Mr Green added that the firm would be opposing the claims.

Mr Fox said, however, that he had good reason for not attending work.

He complained that he was dismissed without being paid notice wages and had not received pay slips on the appropriate dates which formed his basis for this breach of contract claim.

He agreed he would have made a claim for unfair dismissal, but had not worked at the firm long enough to make the claim valid.

Claimants have to be employed for 12 months or more to be able to claim unfair dismissal - except in certain circumstances.

Mr Fox said: "I am still not quite sure why I was dismissed."

He said he had now got another job.