A Protective Award of 90 days pay, the maximum the law can provide, was awarded after the tribunal found that receivers Ernst & Young had failed to consult with both the GPMU and Amicus before announcing the redundancies.

At the time, GPMU deputy general secretary Tony Burke had said the redundancies, which amounted to a quarter of the workforce, were totally ruthless.

Burke said the result was a vindication of the unions decision to take legal action.

The behaviour of Ernst & Young was appalling, with many members dismissed at a moments notice, he said.

The former employees were based at Imperial Home Dcors Crown Wallcoverings plant in Darwen, Lancashire.

Crown Wallcoverings went into administrative receivership in last this year with the loss of 212 jobs.

The company appointed Ernst & Young as administrative receivers, after a restructuring of its business failed to leave it with enough adequate working capital to keep it trading.

by Andy Scott