VETERAN BBC presenter Laurie Mayer has lost his claim for unfair dismissal from the corporation's South East Today news programme.

The unanimous decision was given today by Ashford Employment Tribunal which heard the case last month. It had reserved judgement at the end of the four-day hearing.

The three-man tribunal ruled that Mr Mayer, 57, had not been unfairly dismissed and that he had not been subject to any detriment as a result of protected disclosures he had made.

However, it did say that Mr Mayer had revealed ineffective management and a culture of bullying and harassment and criticised the BBC for seeking retrospectively to "blacken his name."

Mr Mayer, 57, had claimed he was sacked for blowing the whistle on a "climate of fear" in the BBC studios in Tunbridge Wells. He told the tribunal that alleged bullying, harassment and "an atmosphere of intimidation" reduced young staff to tears.

On June 26 last year the anchor presenter of the flagship news programme walked out of the studio just 10 minutes before he was due to go on air.

Mr Mayer told the tribunal that he had "felt shattered and completely undermined" when Laura Ellis, head of the South East region blamed him for "terrible" viewing figures. He was "much too upset and angry" to present the show and never returned.

Although he claimed he was sacked, the BBC claimed he chose to leave four months before his contract expired.

Mr Mayer had spent more than 30 years in television and radio with the BBC and Sky before joining the BBC in Kent to present South East Today, the new flagship regional news programme.

BBC bosses claimed he lacked "warmth" and could not cope with the lighter side of regional news. He was said to be "dismissive and patronising" about South East Today and thought he was a "cut above the station."

Andy Griffee, controller of BBC English Regions, told the tribunal that early last year he had thought the programme "boring and dull." And Rod Beards, the programme editor, said that Mr Mayer lacked warmth and was a "formal, old-fashioned presenter."

Mrs Ellis said the decision not to renew Mr Mayer's contract was purely because he was not committed enough to regional news.

Tribunal chairman Grahame Davis said: "This has been a sad case involving a much respected broadcaster who went out on a limb to protect his colleagues from bullying and harassment. As a result, he found himself without a job.

"One of the more disturbing aspects of this case has been the way that the BBC has sought, retrospectively, to blacken his name."

Mr Davis added: "Laurie Mayer has not been able to show that he suffered any detriment because of his protected disclosures. However, he did reveal ineffective management and a culture of bullying and harassment which caused discontent and suffering amongst the staff.

"He can take comfort from the fact that, as a result of his actions, the BBC newsroom at Tunbridge Wells is a much happier place."