A COUPLE say they have been dismissed without warning from a top North-East golf club.

Mike and Barbara Heslop have been told to leave Castle Eden Golf Club, in east Durham, by the end of next month, having been appointed as steward and stewardess in August last year.

The couple received a letter on January 13 from club secretary, Derek Livingston, saying their employment had been terminated at a meeting of the club's general committee and would take immediate effect.

No explanation was given and an appeal hearing by the committee upheld the decision.

The Heslops say they were never issued with a proper contract or given a verbal or written warnings.

They say they were told an inspection of the kitchen had found the floor and dishwasher not cleaned and the cellar untidy with a pan of broth standing in it.

Mr Heslop said the floor and dishwasher were about to be cleaned and the pan of broth was too large to put in the fridge and had been placed to cool in the refrigerated cellar.

He said: "In any case, these matters at the very least would only merit a verbal warning and in no way could be construed as sackable offences.

"As we have not been here a year there is little we can do. We are totally devastated and will shortly be homeless. The whole thing is entirely unjust."

Yesterday Mr Livingston told The Northern Echo: "The committee dismissed Mr and Mrs Heslop and the case was reviewed and the dismissal is now final. I do not wish to comment further.''

Yesterday, as the couple were locked out of the club's kitchen, a club member, who asked not to be named, said: "The rank and file think the Heslops have been treated disgracefully."