A sales rep sacked because he was offered another job by a rival firm has been awarded £65,754 compensation after winning his unfair dismissal claim.

Forty-seven-year-old David Love, of Belgrave Street, Bellshill an "extremely successful" sales rep with Fastway Couriers had been approached by rival firm, Central Couriers, in March last year and offered a position, a Glasgow tribunal has heard.

He said he would consider the offer and mentioned it to some colleagues at work next day.

Later that day he received a call from boss James Welsh who later asked him if he had been offered a position with this other organisation.

Mr Love told him he had received an offer of a job and had not had time to think about it.

Mr Welsh told him if he was even considering leaving this questioned his loyalty to them and he was dismissed and asked to leave the premises immediately.

Mr Love then took up the job offer with Central Couriers in April last year. But his employment was terminated after six weeks when the firm got into trading difficulties. He received no pay for that period.

He has since found another job in which he earns £1500 a month. He previously earned over £3000 a month with Fastway Couriers.

Mr Love told the tribunal he was shocked at his dismissal.

Employment judge Walter Muir said his dismissal was automatically unfair as no procedure was followed.

Mr Muir added: "Mr Welsh had plainly made his mind up to dismiss the claimant on hearing news that he had been approached by another organisation.

"In business it is normal and to be expected that approaches will be made to employees who have a good track record. There was simply no question of the claimant's loyalty being an issue at all at the dismissal stage."

The Glasgow tribunal awarded Mr Love, of Petersburn Place, Airdrie, £65,754 compensation.