A COMMUNITY group has folded only weeks after being ordered by an employment tribunal to pay £50,000 compensation.

Wronged project worker Brian Maiden fears that he may not receive a penny after The Forge Community Resource Centre, in Norton, announced it was closing.

A last ditch attempt by the voluntary group to get extra funding was turned down last week, leaving board members with no choice but to declare the project insolvent.

Now Mr Maiden must wait until the end of next month, when creditors of the company meet, to find out if he will receive any of the cash owed to him by the community group.

Mr Maiden, 58, had been awarded the pay-out after a hearing against The Forge last month.

The tribunal found in favour of Mr Maiden, stating he had been unfairly dismissed from his job, where he worked helping people to get back into work.

The grandfather had been sacked after claims by a client of harassment, discrimination and bullying.

But the employment tribunal criticised the way the allegations had been handled and awarded the compensation in lieu of lost wages, legal costs and stress.

Mr Maiden, of Middleton Road, Hartlepool, now doubts whether the cash will ever materialise.

A statement by The Forge directors, who are led by chairwoman Jan Ford, said: "It is with regret that the directors of the company have to announce their decision to cease to trade with effect from Friday, August 26, and issue redundancy notices to all members of staff.

"The decision to go into insolvency was very difficult for the board, who have devoted a lot of their own time and energy over many years into making Norton Grange a better place to live."

Mr Maiden said: "I have not got the £50,000, but this case is not over by a long way.

"There are some good, hardworking people at The Forge and I think the council has to do something to help them and the people of Norton Grange.

"How was this allowed to happen?"

The group's closure may cause disruption to some community services.

However, the board said, it was working with Stockton Borough Council, which helped fund it, to try to minimise problems and find alternative providers.

The housing office and Stockton On-Line Centre will be unaffected.

A spokesman for the council said: "Where possible, any new service deliveries will be encouraged to employ the staff currently working at The Forge.

" Stockton council is also in discussion with the Benefits Agency, who will look to offer immediate advice and support."

The Forge manager, Councillor Liz Nesbitt, decline to comment.