A GAY Bolton man has lost a three-year-long compensation battle against British Gas.

Paul Gibson's lengthy legal fight has come to nothing after a judge dismissed the case at an Employment Appeals Tribunal in London.

It means Mr Gibson has now had to accept defeat after having brought the action against British Gas Energy Centre for alleged sexual discrimination.

And last night Mr Gibson, formerly of Hawthorne Road, Deane, who now lives in Manchester city centre, spoke of his bitter disappointment.

He said: "It's all come to an end and we cannot go any further. We can't take it to the Courts of Appeal. I'm absolutely devastated and I do not feel justice has been done.

"I'm so annoyed I feel that the British justice system has let me down. My partner is as upset about this as I am. He knows how much this has meant to me."

Mr Gibson launched the action in 1998 after losing his job as a forklift truck driver at the firm's Breightmet depot.

The 26-year-old man has always admitted he had not been able to concentrate as he struggled to come to terms with his sexuality and was signed off sick in April, 1997.

Six months later he lost his job, later bringing claims for alleged discrimination, breach of contract and breach of an equal treatment directive which were all dismissed at Manchester industrial tribunal.

British Gas Centres always strenuously denied Mr Gibson's claims, insisting he was dismissed on grounds of his capability.

Now Mr Gibson has approached Stonewall -- a lobbying group which campaigns for gay people -- to see if they can help his legal fight any further.