A KIDDERMINSTER print firm which is said to have lost £55,000 during the past 12 months has been accused of carrying out a "personal attack" on its sales manager by unfairly selecting him for redundancy.

The accusation was made by Grant Richards, of Dotterel Place, Kidderminster, at Birmingham Employment Tribunal, where he complained his salary was cut from £36,000 to £19,000 after the firm had allegedly previously "tried to get him out".

Mr Richards was seeking compensation for unfair dismissal against Datalow Ltd, trading as Aichess Print of Hoo Farm Industrial Estate, Kidderminster.

He was told, however, that his claim had been made beyond the tribunal's three-month deadline and the tribunal had first to decide whether to allow his claim to go ahead.

Mr Richards said he had been employed as a sales manager for the firm for 13 years, with an excellent record.

"I have always been honest and loyal to the company and I believe I was unfairly selected for redundancy," he added.

"No explanation was given. I was told to leave with immediate effect last year. There was no prior consultation and the correct dismissal procedure was not carried out by the management."

The tribunal was told Mr Richards considered he had come under a personal attack for no reason and he believed the firm had previously tried to force him out by cutting his salary by a third, to £19,000.

He said the firm made a loss of £55,000 during the past 12 months and had called on the sales department to create a sales income of £2,500 a day.

Martyn Ford, representing the firm, said Aichess Print objected against the claim because it had been lodged out of time.

He admitted, however, the firm had not carried out the statutory dismissal procedure in making Mr Richards redundant.

Tribunal chairman, David Dimbylow, said the tribunal had failed to reach a decision over whether to allow Mr Richards's claim to go ahead, in view of the three-month deadline.

He added a decision would be made at a later date.