Bernard Lloyd-Briden, who worked at Worthing College, was sacked because the college's insurance company would not cover someone so old.

An employment tribunal dismissed his unfair dismissal claim on the basis that he was over 65 and was not entitled to bring the claim. A High Court judge upheld the decision, even though the legal provisions under which his claim was struck out have since been repealed.

The college had successfully argued that the provisions of the Employment Rights Act - which stipulate that workers have a right not to be unfairly dismissed - did not apply to Mr Lloyd-Briden because he was over 65. Mr Lloyd-Briden appealed on the grounds of age discrimination.