A YORK credit clerk was dismissed without notice by Station Taxis in York after an internal audit of accounts showed previously undisclosed debts and a sum of £50,000 that could not be accounted for.

An industrial tribunal in Leeds heard the reason for Patricia Carter's dismissal was incompetence in running the book-keeping because she did not produce the necessary documentation for one of the company's accounts.

At the time of the dismissal, Mrs Carter had given up her duties as credit clerk and was working as a radio controller, sending taxis out to jobs.

The tribunal heard that during the 14 years she had worked for the company, Mrs Carter had never received any training in book-keeping and her work was not supervised by senior officials despite this requirement being clearly stipulated in company rules.

The company's new treasurer, Paul Palmer, who took over in 1995, said there was no suggestion that the money had been stolen.

But, he said, Station Taxis' solicitor had concluded a "high degree of incompetence" had been shown in the keeping of the records.

Mrs Carter was dismissed on February 24 this year. She has still to give evidence.

The case has been adjourned until July.

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