Two former co-ordinators of the now-defunct Bradford Victim Support scheme have had their claim for unfair dismissal rejected.

However, the employment tribunal in Leeds agreed Peter Milligan and Mira Dey were owed money relating to pensions, holiday entitlement and time off in lieu.

Keighley Victim Support has been ordered to pay the pair a total of £2,200 after the tribunal found there had been a transfer of workloads between the schemes following Bradford's closure.

Mr Milligan and Miss Dey were served with redundancy notices at the end of last year by Bradford Victim Support (BVS) management committee after the scheme had it's Home Office funding withdrawn.

The pair argued they were unfairly dismissed because services were transferred to Keighley. The tribunal found that although there had been "a transfer of undertakings" between the two schemes there was no unfair dismissal.

Speaking after the case the chairman of Victim Support Keighley, Pat White, said the "real tragedy" was the amount of effort and resources it had taken to fight the case.

"These could have been put to better use in alleviating the sufferings of victims of crime in the area," she said.

"We at Victim Support Keighley have been forced down a long and unpleasant road. This case came about because we held true to our commitment to help victims of crime throughout the area.

"It is so good that we can now, being cleared of any suggestions of unfairness, get back wholeheartedly to providing an effective and professional service to people who need our support."

A spokesman for the Victim Support National Office said the cost of defending the case would be covered by insurance, but added the extra expense of people taking time out to give evidence at the tribunal would not be recovered.

Reg Le Pla, former chairman of the BVS management committee said he was glad the matter was now finally over.

"I have lived with it since BVS closed at the beginning of the year until the conclusion of tribunal 10 months later.

"I'm glad neither BVS or KVS were found to have unfairly dismissed Mr Milligan and Miss Dey, but from a personal point of view I am sorry they had to lose their employment."

Mr Milligan or Miss Dey were not available for a comment.