A binman is trying to take Bradford Council to an employment tribunal after he was sacked because he had 68 days off sick in 18 months.

Ronnie Cowlishaw claims the majority of his time off was due to injuries sustained at work.

Despite an appeal to the Council and a number of sick notes from his GP in support of his medical condition, the Council has refused to reinstate him, he said.

He has the backing of his union, the GMB, in his bid to get his job back.

Mr Cowlishaw, 44, of Holme Wood, Bradford, said: "I had to go off sick twice because of shoulder injuries. It was for a total of 44 days. The first time was down to faulty equipment when the bin flew off the back of the wagon and hit my shoulder.

"The second time was about three months later when the driver didn't get the bin on right and it flew off and threw my arm right back.

"I've also had another 24 days off sick in total for things such as a stomach bug, stiff neck and a chest infection. They were all genuine and I know people I worked with who have worse sickness records."

Mr Cowlishaw was first given an informal warning shortly after Christmas in 2004 a few weeks after returning back to work from his second shoulder injury.

Then after a wrist injury the following March he was formally told to have no more than three days off in three months or face further discipline.

Mr Cowlishaw, who is due to marry his fiance Jane Belcher on Saturday, claims he stuck to the rules, and from the beginning of December to the end of March this year he had no days off work.

He said: "Then they called me in and said they weren't happy with my attendance which I was surprised about. I enjoyed the job and want to be reinstated so I appealed against the Council's decision but they would not hear it.

"Now I am trying to take them to a tribunal and we are hoping to get it heard before the end of the month.

"I believe I am being victimised because I had a grievance with one of bosses over another employee."

The claims come as the Council gets tough on long-term sick leave among its employees.

More than 115,000 working days were lost in nine months last year because of long-term absences.

The highest average number of sickness days is in the environmental services department - where Mr Cowlishaw worked - at 22 per person per year.

A Council spokesman said it was unable to comment on Mr Cowlishaw's case until the outcome of the tribunal.

e-mail: jo.winrow@bradford.newsquest.co.uk