A MEDIATION service has reported success in sorting out employment tribunal complaints in the region.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) published its annual report and accounts yesterday, which show that 75 per cent of applications were settled or withdrawn before they reached the tribunal stage.

They also reveal that, in the past year, 49,848 calls were made to the Acas Newcastle helpline.

Acas North-East director George Clark said: "We have a statutory duty to contact both employer and employee when an application to tribunal is made.

"The skills and experience of Acas staff in conciliating between parties has contributed greatly towards ensuring that the number of cases reaching tribunals has stayed so low."