A member of staff at a further education college has been sacked for gross misconduct.

Abingdon College was today remaining tight-lipped about the dismissal.

In a statement, the college's director of client services, Steve Billcliffe, said: "Abingdon College is able to confirm that a member of staff has been dismissed recently for gross misconduct. The college is not willing to discuss this matter in more detail."

The statement continued: "Abingdon College policy is not to comment in public on internal staff disciplinary matters. "The college's policies in relation to staff discipline are in line with other public sector employers in Oxfordshire and involve a thorough and fair process."

Under current employment law the staff member concerned has three months to decide if they wish to take their case to an industrial tribunal.

The case was taken as far as it could go within the college's own disciplinary proceedings and college managers suspect it will most likely go to a tribunal.

They are now preparing to defend their actions if a hearing is called for. However, the final decision will rest with the sacked worker.

Many students at the Northcourt Road college seemed unaware of the sacking or the reasons behind it.