SIX pub workers have emerged victorious following a nine-month battle against a backdrop of alleged unfair dismissals and pay disputes.

Joan Ardis, Valerie Greenhalgh, Karen Malley, Laura Malley, Michelle Ellis and James Jones, all from Horwich, took their former employer, Barnstormers, in Lostock Lane, Lostock, to an industrial tribunal.

Four of them accused the pub's owner, Darren Miller, of unfair dismissal.

They, together with the two remaining employees, also put forward claims that Mr Miller had not paid them the right amount of money and had failed to pay wages owing to them.

The two-day hearing at Alexandra House, in The Parsonage, Manchester, found the pub guilty on each of the charges.

An accusation which alleged Mr Miller had not given written notice of dismissal to Michelle Ellis, however, was deemed unfounded.

The disputes followed Mr Miller's takeover of the pub in February, 2000. He had earlier purchased the firm from British Aerospace.

Mrs Ardis said: "When he took over he said I didn't have to come into work for the rest of the week but said that we would still get paid. The following Monday my role at the firm was redrawn and I was eventually dismissed."

A second hearing has been pencilled in for January 8 to set compensation payments.

Graham Wells, secretary of the GMB union which represented the six, said: "This shows that no matter how big or small a firm is, they must still abide by the law.

"These six people had nowhere to go but a tribunal and we take the rights of our members seriously."

The six were represented by solicitor Paul Grendon, of Whittles, Manchester.

Mr Miller said: "I am innocent and I will take this to an appeal. I have new evidence which I am confident will prove my innocence."