A WIDOW who took a wealthy landowner to an industrial tribunal claiming unfair dismissal on behalf of her late husband has agreed an out-of-court settlement.

Widow Carol Hunt, of Chesterton, near Bicester, acted for her husband Victor, who had worked for Edward Lane Fox for more than 25 years before being sacked.

Just two months later the 59-year-old committed suicide.

His widow lived rent free on the Bignell Farm estate, Chesterton, where her husband was a farm manager, and took the unusual step of bringing his case to a tribunal after his death.

But the tribunal at Reading was abandoned (ON THURSDAY) when both parties came to a private agreement. No details of any financial payment or agreements were disclosed and all parties refused to comment.

Earlier, the tribunal had heard how Mr Lane Fox - former owner of the up-market estate agents of the same name - dismissed Mr Hunt following a disagreement over the running of the estate. Mr Hunt had suffered a blood clot on the brain before his dismissal, which appeared to change his character. Mr Lane Fox said: "I feel that the whole farm had suddenly got on top of him. I think the minor brain tumour was greater than we thought. He was not well."

The employer was forced to write to his friend to complain, but in the winter of 1996 the situation deter- iorated.

Mr Lane Fox added: "Vic wasn't well. No doctor's certificates were produced. He hardly ventured out of his farmhouse. I didn't even try to have discussions. I was much more concerned to see Vic well again."

Last July Mr Hunt was dismissed with 12 weeks notice. He and his wife were forced to quit their cottage. Dog charge RAYMOND Morris, 55, of Walters Row, St Clements, Oxford, will appear before Oxford magistrates on Friday charged with having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place on November 11 last year. He will appear before Oxford Magistrates next Friday.

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