Barnoldswick's former town clerk has been taken on by a different council - despite being told he was too old to carry on working.

And the 65-year-old is set to face his former employer in court after his "age discrimination" claim against Barnoldswick Town Council was accepted for consideration by the Employment Tribunal Robert Kandt was forcibly retired from his role as town clerk in January when he reached pensionable age, despite his pleas to stay on in the job.

In a decision which was condemned by a professional body and led to the resignation of the town council's chairman, the Liberal Democrat-dominated authority voted to end his employment, stating that it had agreed a blanket policy of not employing over-65s.

After Mr Kandt's appeal against the decision was rejected, he decided to sue the council for alleged age discrimination and his claim has now been accepted by the Employment Tribunal - the judicial body which determines disputes between employers and employees. Details of his claim will now be sent to Barnoldswick Town Council, which has 28 days to respond if it wants to challenge the claim.

Mr Kandt released a statement commenting on the acceptance of his claim this week.

It read: "It is both professionally and personally heartening that an independent professional body has looked at the council's previous decision to enforce compulsory retirement and has concluded that there is enough substance in my claim that I have been discriminated against on the grounds of my age to warrant further action."

Mr Kandt added that he was looking forward to his new role as clerk of Embsay Parish Council, which he started on February 20.

Barnoldswick Town Council's human resources committee is due to meet on Wednesday to discuss appointing Mr Kandt's replacement. The meeting starts at 7pm at the council offices on Fernlea Avenue.