A FORMER Silentnight Beds worker who clocked up 42 years with the firm before his employment was terminated has been left wondering "Where the heart is?"

The beds company, which has just begun a £6 million sponsorship of the ITV drama of that name, ended Wilf Hodkinson's employment due to his "continued ill health".

He had been off work for a year following a bout of pneumonia that left him with heart problems. But he was due in hospital for a small operation on the day the letter came confirming the termination of his employment. A hospital consultant had assured him the procedure should improve his health enough for him to return to work. He was confident and hopeful of returning within a short period and told his bosses that, but to no avail.

Mr Hodkinson, of Coates Avenue, Barnoldswick, believes the problems started in February when he submitted a sick note from his doctor signed for up to 12 months. He believes directors at Silentnight took that to mean he would be off work for another year, when in fact he hoped to return within a few weeks.

He started work with Silentnight on leaving school in 1959 and as far as he knows, just one worker has been with the company longer.

"I was more than happy with my employment and considered myself to be a loyal, trustworthy and dedicated employee, as the length of my service will testify," he wrote in a letter to the Herald.

He had little time off sick until the past year, the only exceptions being short periods for injuries that he believes were caused at work. For example, he has had operations to both his Achilles tendons, which doctors told him were damaged through repeatedly carrying heavy loads.

Following his bout of pneumonia, which put him in hospital for a week, Mr Hodkinson was left weak and breathless. After waiting several months to see a consultant, he was told the problem was due to an erratic heartbeat caused by the pneumonia. It could be treated by a procedure which usually meant a quick improvement in health.

"During this illness I have been in regular contact with my employers and was led to believe that some sort of position would be kept open for me when I was fit enough to return to work," wrote Mr Hodkinson."

When the Herald spoke to him, he said he was shattered to learn the company no longer wanted him: "Silentnight has been my life - I don't know anything else, but I do know that. I can do most of the jobs backwards."

Now almost 58, he said he had been looking forward to getting back to work and staying with the company until retirement. Instead he was finished with 12 weeks' pay in lieu of notice and some holiday pay. But he wasn't that bothered about the money.

"It's the job I want," he said. "I've always enjoyed working there and they kept promising they'd find me something."

After the procedure to stabilise his heartbeat, Mr Hodkinson felt better almost immediately. But he is now taking sleeping tablets because of the stress caused by losing his job.

He said instead of giving him 12 weeks' pay, he would rather Silentnight had kept the money and given him 12 weeks to get fully fit again. If he didn't then he would accept losing his job.

Stephen Pickard, director of human resources at Silentnight Beds, said parts of the letter Mr Hodkinson had sent to the Craven Herald, and which he had seen a copy of, were not factually correct.

"He had already been off work for a year and had been signed off as unfit for work for another year," said Mr Pickard.

He said the decision was subsequently taken to end Mr Hodkinson's employment, adding: "I don't want to get into a public debate about the matter."