Guiseley pram company Silver Cross, which dismissed an employee on the day she handed in her notice, has been found guilty of breach of contract.

Heather Hirst, 34, took Silver Cross to an employment tribunal for unpaid wages.

At the tribunal yesterday Mrs Hirst, an administration officer, said she had been 'bemused' when told to hand over money to the company before she left.

Mrs Hirst of Gilbeck Drive, Otley, was awarded a total of £638.44. After the case she said justice had been done.

"I am overjoyed. It just shows that companies cannot treat their employees like this and get away with it," she said.

The tribunal heard that Mrs Hirst began working at the pram company in March on a part-time basis. She became full-time on July 1, but a few weeks later decided to hand in her notice for personal reasons.

Mrs Hirst told the bench: "I handed in my letter of resignation to my manager Lisa Ratcliffe who said nothing but went away to a private room. Twenty minutes later she called me into the room. She asked me when I wanted to leave. In the letter I put that I was awaiting confirmation of a leaving date so I said whenever. She said 'You might as well leave today then'."

Mrs Hirst said she was even more shocked to hear Miss Ratcliffe say that a calculation would be done to work out how much she owed the company.

Mrs Hirst cleared her desk and handed over a cheque for about £150 which, she was told, was her pay until the end of the month.

Chairman of the bench, David Sneaton, said he found in favour of Mrs Hirst because the company had breached the contract. Mrs Hirst was awarded £31.50 for one day's unpaid holiday and £606.94 for failing to allow her to work her notice. She was told the money would come from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, because Silver Cross has gone into receivership.