A crisp factory worker with a chronic stammer who sued bosses after he was forced to speak in public faces a wait to find out if he has won his claim for damages.

Kevin Alderson claimed he needed psychiatric treatment after being forced by Walker's Crisps to give a speech during a team-building exercise.

The 40-year-old told an industrial tribunal he was bullied, taunted and humiliated after being forced to live out his worst nightmare.

He said the experience forced him to quit his job after 23 years' service.

Married father-of-two Mr Alderson had worked for Walker's since 1977 at its factory in Peterlee, County Durham.

The company is famously endorsed by former England striker Gary Lineker and Mr Alderson was present when the TV pundit visited the plant on its 40th anniversary in 1999.

But during that time he was allegedly going through a personal nightmare at the hands of line manager Mary King, who he said frequently reduced him to tears with her bullying.

Trouble started when packaging technician Mr Alderson was asked to take part in a role-playing exercise and verbal presentation on July 6, 1999.

He told his line manager he did not want to take part in the exercise because he was embarrassed over his stammer but alleges she bullied him into taking part.

Mr Alderson was asked to fill in an evaluation form on the exercise and made clear his disgust at being made to take part.

In a statement he said that after making his views known his manager began to bully him to the point of "absolute despair".

Mr Alderson said he then had no choice but to walk out of his £16,000-a-year job.

He launched a claim for constructive dismissal on the grounds he was forced to quit because of humiliation he suffered when he was discriminated against over his disability.

Mr Alderson, of Easington Colliery, County Durham, claims he still sees a psychiatrist over the torment he was put through,

Walker's Crisps reject his claims. They say Mr Alderson took part in the team-building exercise of his own will and did not express his concerns.

The tribunal chairman deferred judgement until next month