A dad who found his baby son dead in his cot was sacked by bosses after taking time off to grieve.

Brian Beaton, of Great Horton, Bradford, was traumatised and couldn't cope at work after finding seven-month-old Ethan dead from a form of bacterial blood poisoning.

But, he claims, despite his bosses giving him their blessing to stay off work until he felt better, he was sent a letter saying he was sacked for "poor time-keeping" by T&D Packaging Ltd, of Bowling Back Lane.

Mr Beaton, 23, a labourer, said: "I couldn't believe it when I opened the letter. They told me to go home then this happened. I did try to go back to work thinking I could cope. But I couldn't.

"I found Ethan in his cot just lying there lifeless and I can't get that image of him out of my mind no matter how I try."

His bosses have said he can appeal against the decision.

Little Ethan, was found dead in his cot - after suffering meningococcal septicaemia - by his devastated dad in November.

The day before, Ethan had been lively and was chuckling merrily, despite having a cold.

He had also been sick, so his mum Heidi Snowden, 16, checked on him regularly - looking in on him just an hour before little Ethan died.

Heidi said: "I couldn't believe it when Brian told me he was dead, because I had been with him only an hour before.

"But the doctors have said it can take a grip really quickly and that is what happened.

"There was no rash or anything, that you're supposed to look out for with meningitis."

A post-mortem examination revealed he had died from adrenal haemorrhage and meningococcal septicaemia.

Heidi said she was horrified at her partner's sacking.

"I can't believe the company has treated Brian in this way.

"They have showed no compassion."

Brian, of Kingswood Place, Great Horton, had been working for the firm for just a few days and took two weeks off, then went back to work.

He lasted just two-and-a-half days before breaking down again and went home, with the blessing of his bosses, he claimed.

And then he received his termination letter from the company.

It blamed Mr Beaton's "continued poor attendance and failure to contact the company on absence in line with company procedures."

But, Mr Beaton said, they knew about his situation and he kept them up-to-date via a relative who also works there.

He has now written to his bosses asking for a meeting to try to get his job back.

Chris Edwards, operations director at the Bowling Back Lane company which makes tanks and drums for the chemical industry, said the matter was now part of the disciplinary appeals procedure.

"We shall be inviting Mr Beaton for a hearing. It would be wrong to say any more at this stage.

"We will have to take everything into account. He has gone through some difficult times."