A former pub manageress has received more than £19,000 compensation after losing her job.

Liz Giles has won an industrial tribunal claiming unfair dismissal and breach of contract against a company which took over the historic Courthouse pub when its owners went into administrative receivership 18 months ago.

She said in a statement to the tribunal in Leeds that she believed her new employers did everything they could to ensure she was "pushed out."

Today her solicitor, Adrian Green, of Eaton and Co, who represented her at the tribunal, said The Old Courthouse Ltd which had employed her was still in existence and would be pursued for the payment.

Miss Giles, who has an 11-year-old son, said: "To say it has been a nightmare is an understatement."

She said she began work at the Courthouse four years ago when the building - formerly the County Court - was transformed into a pub, keeping its historic features.

It soon became a city centre success story but its owners Highsong (Bradford) Ltd went into administrative receivership.

However, the pub continued to trade as a going concern - with Miss Giles as manager.

Miss Giles said in her statement that the staff were told by the receivers their terms and conditions of employment remained the same.

She said the Courthouse later changed hands, with the business going to The Old Courthouse Ltd.

Miss Giles said Dean Loynes - who was with managing agents for The Old Courthouse Ltd - told her she would be made redundant and would be paid out as soon as possible.

But she said she was later told her services were no longer needed for "organisational, technical and economic reasons" and was offered four weeks pay in lieu of notice. No other mention was made of redundancy by the company.

Miss Giles, 30, said she still occupied a flat above the pub with her son, because there was 12 weeks' notice of termination of tenancy.

She said: "They wanted to get rid of me and I had a young child. It has been absolutely horrendous. I had no money and my car was repossessed. "

Mr Green said: "I think it is a good result for her. "

He said The Old Courthouse Ltd did not attend the hearing.

But Dean Loynes, now a director of another company which has taken over the business - the New Courthouse Company Ltd - said the former company had ceased trading. "We are not in any way connected with them. This tribunal has nothing to do with us and we did not employ Miss Giles. We wish her every success."